The Kuala Lumpur International motorshow 2018 (KLIMS) just opened today and it is the first time in 5 years the motorshow has been held. The motorshow had lacklustre turn out from visitors in previous years prompting the organiser to delay organising the motorshow by several years hoping that the long hiatus will create some interest from visitors to turn out in greater numbers. The fundamental part about any motorshow is the number of car companies that will participate and exhibit their new models or concept cars.
Sad to say the KLIMS 2018 is very pathetic since it could only attract less than 50% of the car companies present in Malaysia to participate. As expected the usual participating car companies would be Perodua, Proton, Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, Ford, Honda, Lexus, Peugeot, Mitsubishi and Nissan. As you can see many of the bigger names such as Mercedes, BMW, Audi, VW, Suzuki, Land Rover, Jaguar, Volvo, Mazda, Subaru, Renault, Alfa Romeo, Chevrolet, Maserati and Porsche were missing. One would accept if supercar makers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and ultra luxury brands such as Rolls Royce and Bentley were missing. KLIMS consisted of 2 halls, one on level 1 and the second is on level 2. Level 2 housed Nissan, Petronas a several tinting brands and car care product retailers.
In short the motorshow is barely a motorshow when so many car manufacturers are not represented. A true motorshow would at least cover 75% of the brands that are currently sold in Malaysia. I can understand that brands like Alfa Romeo or Chevrolet is not represented since Alfa no longer has a distributor in Malaysia and Chevrolet's distributorship was just terminated with Naza.
Walking around Hall 2 where the back section was for accessories or automotive related products it was clear to see that the number of companies willing to exhibiting at this motorshow was very low. Many industry players such as major tyre companies, lubricant companies or mobile electronic companies were missing. Left were just a handful of window film suppliers and car care chemical suppliers. At the rate this event is going it is unlikely that there will be another KLIMS for many years to come.
Many visitors will feel that it is not worth spending RM20 to enter to see a handful of car makers exhibiting their cars. Unlike other international motor shows in other countries, the KLIMS is seriously a waste of time. The Bangkok motorshow which is held yearly has more to offer.
It was rumoured that in the past BMW and Mercedes were given false information about the competitor participating promoting BMW and Mercedes to participate but when one did not participate the car maker felt cheated and from then on they would not participate ever again. According to sources in BMW they would prefer to spend the marketing budget in smaller exhibits in major high end shopping malls which they can interact with buyer and receive immediate bookings for the cars without having to face their competitors.
Recently Hong Leong bank organised a premier banking event where they invited customers to test drive 10 different cars for free together with free lunch and drinks. The event was held over several days and received a great response from the customers which resulted in many of the car companies selling cars at the event.
I personally feel that motor shows in Malaysia is dead! The average salary earner with 2 or 3 children will not want to pay RM60 to visit a motorshow to see a handful of car companies exhibit their cars but they would pay RM30 to visit a car culture or motoring culture show like the Art of Speed. The visitors see more value when they can get up close to interestingly tuned cars or motorcycles and buy innovative bespoke merchandise.
those who still want to visit KLIMS, be warned!
