Mercedes-Benz Pulls OUT Of The 2020 New York Auto Show — Who's Next?

Although the New York tri-state region is home to a vast concentration of wealth, and big-time spenders when it comes to luxury automobiles, Mercedes-Benz is doing the unthinkable. It is walking away from participating in the 2020 New York Auto Show (NYIAS).

This is a helluva blow to one of the largest auto shows in North America.

Not only did the three-pointed star command a significant footprint at the New York show, it also had been a key location for product debuts. Mercedes has been able to make headlines and catapult its latest reveals via the Big Apple.

Clearly though, the brand is heading in a different direction.

Before getting into Mercedes' strategy, we're more curious: Who do YOU think is next to pull the rip cord on NYC?

Once a star of America's biggest car shows, Mercedes-Benz is now abandoning them, one by one.

The German luxury maker plans to skip next year's New York auto show, after having been a central figure at the influential luxury-leaning consumer event for at least four decades. It is part of a bigger move by Mercedes — and one also being made by other brands around the world. In recent years, Mercedes also has dropped out of the premier U.S. auto shows in Detroit and Chicago. Only its presence at Los Angeles continues among the Tier 1 American events. But even that commitment could be in doubt...

Read Article

skytop - 12/3/2019 2:56:05 AM

+1 Boost

The benefits vs. cost of showing at the NY Auto Show clearly do not add up.

I find going to the local MB dealership is far more helpful and satisfying than fighting the NYC traffic, chaos and crowds at the Coliseum show.

PUGPROUD - 12/3/2019 5:49:33 AM

0 Boost

While so much easier to keep up on all model developments on line and in mags, the shows are a great way to compare competing brands and trends across the entire industry for me at least. We must be of the same vintage haven gone to the NY Auto Show in the Coliseum considering its now been in the Javits Center for over 30 years.

mre30 - 12/3/2019 7:29:05 AM

+3 Boost

I went to the show at the NY Coliseum long ago as a kid (1980's) and my most significant memory was that, for the cars that were unlocked and you could actually sit in, anything that could be stripped, was stripped.

For example, radio knobs could be just pulled off back then (on the GM cars at least) and if you went to the show a day or two from the opening, there would just be metal sticks where the radio knobs should be. Cigarette lighters were also all gone.

mre30 - 12/3/2019 7:25:18 AM

+4 Boost

As a NYC resident who attends the Auto Show every year - I observe that most of the people (and kids!) in attendance are going for "something to do" and not to scope out purchases.

The reasons for a company like MB to invest $$$ in their auto show presence (and staff it!) are dwindling as people just do internet research and then go for the cheap lease at the dealer they found on the internet by comparison shopping.

The Auto Show as a sales tool seems to be a relic of the past (though I love going).

MDarringer - 12/3/2019 8:10:45 AM

-2 Boost

Greta is to blame.

Foncool - 12/3/2019 8:20:47 AM

0 Boost

The cost of doing the NY auto show is astronomical, considering that everything moved in or out of the Javits Center must be done by the Union. The press/industry days were at one time lavishly caterer events with MB being one of the better ones. But they’ve been cutting back the past couple of years.

I suspect the next to pull out will be Porsche, they’ll leave it to the dealers to represent the brand with support. Ferrari and Lamborghini pulled out years ago but do off site private events. (Ferrari at their Park Ave showroom).

However the East Side House $1,000 a plate Gala at the Javits center on Thursday evening will continue.

atc98092 - 12/3/2019 8:22:03 AM

+2 Boost

I agree that it's nice to be able to see all the latest models in a single place, indoors, and not be deluged by sales staff. But if you desire a test drive, that's not something available at most shows. And lately it just becomes more of an issue to even get to the venue in the first place. I haven't attended a car show in Seattle for decades, and don't really miss them. That's probably the overlying reason more manufacturers are pulling out of these shows.

cidflekken - 12/3/2019 2:28:57 PM

+1 Boost

Most people go to Auto Shows for entertainment, not to make purchase decisions. It is more effective for brands to debut models via internet exposure. Attracting a buyer into a showroom and now open up the distraction of other competing brands in the same "room" seems more effective, both cost-wise and closing a sale.