BMW returns to UK Motor Show

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   from www.sky.com/skynews/xml/article/0,,40000-217143,00.html

 BMW, one of the most conspicuous absentees from recent UK motor shows,
has confirmed that it will be at the 2006 British International Motor
Show (BIMS) in London.

The German car maker has shunned shows at the Birmingham NEC for five years. 

Managing
director of BMW UK Jim O'Donnell said: 'We have been critical of rising
costs at the NEC. I believe the new show has addressed my concerns and
I am delighted that we will be attending.

'I can guarantee that
we will use every opportunity to present our brands in an interesting
and innovative way, and hope the new show will prove to be a huge
success.'

The company's Mini brand has been at every UK show
since the launch of the latest car in 2001, and will continue to
attend. Rolls Royce, another part of the BMW stable, has also confirmed
that it will come to the capital's show in 2006.

The British
International Motor Show will be held at the ExCel centre in Docklands
from 20-30 July 2006. Tickets go on sale in November.

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Birmingham played host to the UK motor show from 1978 to 2004, but
dwindling visitor numbers and lack of support from some car makers
meant it was scrapped as a venue by the Society of Motor Manufacturers
and Traders (SMMT) last year. The SMMT has granted International Motor
Industry Events a licence to run the biennial show for the next decade.