The Commercial Vehicle Show will be back at the NEC in 2011 - with or without the major truck manufacturers.
Even before visitor numbers for last week's CV Operator Show are announced, the organisers have confirmed that halls 4 and 5 at the NEC are booked for 12-14 April next year.
"There will be a CV Show next year," says Bob Sockl, chief executive of show co-ordinator Crystal Communications. "We are optimistic that the CV manufacturers will come and will be sensible [about the size of stands]. No-one is in a position to have gin palaces."
Paul Everitt, chief executive at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, a CV Show organiser, believes next year's event will coincide with a recovery in sales, and the truck manufacturers will want to be there.
He adds: "The timing of the show and the economic cycle will be back together by next April."
Mercedes-Benz CV managing director Ian Jones confirms the manufacturer will be back with four stands, including trucks and vans, next year. "We plan to exhibit in 2011," he says. "The CV Show is very important to the UK market."
DAF is, however, more cautious. "There is a distinct desire to go back to the CV Show, but the market is still in a sorry state and we are reluctant to commit at this stage," says Tony Pain, marketing director at DAF Trucks.
Although final audited figures on attendance at the CV Operator Show will not be available for another two weeks, the organisers say feedback from the 304 exhibitors has been "brilliant" .
"The show was busy enough and, more to the point, visitors were decision-makers not tyre-kickers," says Sockl. Everitt adds: "We were delighted how this year's show went. There were a lot CV manufacturers at the show and they were itching to be back in."
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