The British International Motor Show has been axed after 107 years.

It is a huge blow to the motor industry as the organisers of the British International Motor Show has decided the event was “no longer viable”. At the show peak it attracted over 900,000 enthusiasts

However the larger European shows are now attracting far more peoples, compared to the British Show as their numbers have been on a steady decline. Paul Everitt of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders – which organised the event – said:

“It was not a decision taken lightly.”

However the key factor of his decision was the current economic climate. The SMMT had already cancelled this year’s show, and yesterday scrapped the 2012 event.

Mr Everitt added:

“In recent years the show has played a less important role in influencing new car buyers.”

The first was held at Crystal Palace in 1903 and it moved on to Olympia, Earls Court and Birmingham. The last was at London’s ExCel arena in 2008, when 600 cars were displayed and then PM Gordon Brown was among 472,000 people who went – a slight increase on recent years.