The organisers of the Commercial Vehicle Show, which will be held at the NEC in Birmingham on April 28 to 30, have confirmed that the show will go ahead as planned despite almost every van and truck manufacturer pulling out.

The organisers are now polling exhibitors to determine whether they should rename the event to emphasise its relevance as a road transport engineering show.

Over the past few months Volkswagen, Citroen, Vauxhall, Mercedes and Isuzu all announced that will not be exhibiting their vans at the show.

They join truck makers such as Volvo, Iveco Truck, DAF and Scania who all confirmed last year that they will also not be displaying at the event.

As a result, there is only one truck maker – BMC UK – confirmed as an exhibitor and no van makers, although there is still a handful that have yet to decide.

The organisers extended the deadline for exhibitors to confirm their attendance until the end of this month, but it is unlikely that any van makers will now decide to attend.

In previous years the show has attracted up to 40 truck and van manufacturers.

In the absence of these vehicle makers, this year’s show will be made up of over 300 smaller exhibitors, who supply the commercial vehicle sector.

“The show is still going ahead,” confirmed spokesman Robin Dickeson from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which hosts the annual show in partnership with the Road Haulage Association and the Institute of Road Transport Engineers.

“In practice it will be what it always has been – a road transport engineering show.”