The incredibly shrinking Tokyo Motor Show just got even smaller. Hyundai Motor Co., the last major foreign automaker which was scheduled to participate in next month's show, has decided to pull out with just weeks to go, organizers say.

The huge falls in car and commercial vehicle sales worldwide is having a savage impact on marketing spend.

This fall's Tokyo motor show is still on, but most of the world's automakers will sit out.

Nissan said today it would skip some major international auto shows in its new business year starting on April 1 to save cash as global car sales plummet.

The waffles were offered for breakfast. The filet mignon was served at lunch. And small hamburgers and shrimp appetizers delivered for dinner.

In January 1989 Nissan used the Detroit auto show to launch its premium brand, Infiniti. Neither Nissan nor Infiniti was in the Motor City this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of that significant event. Aggressive cost cutting forced the Japanese automaker to withdraw both brands shortly before the show -- even though Nissan already had paid for the space.

These days, nothing is sacred when it comes to saving money and in 2009, auto shows will be in the crosshairs of ailing carmakers.

Volvo, the Swedish unit of Ford Motor Co., will not participate in the Tokyo Motor Show this fall.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers' Association (JAMA) is debating whether to call off the October 2009 show as carmakers pull out, according to Automotive News.

Lexus has canceled its annual dealer meeting this year to save costs for the company and dealers.