At least six automakers are pulling out of Detroit’s North American International Auto Show set for January 2009, citing financial reasons.

Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors announced Monday that it will not participate. It joins Ferrari, Land Rover, Porsche, Rolls-Royce and Suzuki, who have already said they would not join the NAIAS, and more carmakers are reportedly considering pulling out.

Many automakers are snubbing the NAIAS as they struggle with plummeting sales. At a time like this, the Detroit show will not help promote them as the Big Three U.S. carmakers -- General Motors, Ford and Chrysler --, which dominate the show, are reportedly verging on filing for bankruptcy protection. Some U.S. newspapers are reporting the possibility of the Big Three going bankrupt even before the NAIAS opens in January next year.

Launched in 1907, the Detroit show has been one of the world’s four major motor shows, along with those in Frankfurt, Paris and Tokyo. For the past century, the event has been a major showcase for emerging trends in the worldwide automobile market.

(englishnews@chosun.com )