Big Three US automakers to skip Tokyo Motor Show

Dozens of car, truck and motorcycle makers will be in attendance at the Tokyo Motor Show later this year, organisers said Monday, but the Big Three US automakers will be skipping it again.

The 43rd edition of the event, which is held every two years, is scheduled for November 22 to December 1.

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler will not be attending for the third-straight time, said Atsushi Fujimaki, a spokesman for the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.

The trio did not attend the show's 2009 and 2011 editions.

"Honestly, we don't know why," he said.

"As a matter of course, we wanted them to take part and we asked them to do so as we have in the past."

Among the Japanese and foreign brands taking part are Toyota, Honda and Suzuki, Germany's BMW, France's Renault and Sweden's Volvo.

Two years ago, the show was held months after Japan's quake-tsunami disaster, which crippled production for Japanese automakers and dented their financial results.