| abstract | - The first British Motor Show organised by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) was held at Crystal Palace, London in 1903, the same year that the speed limit was raised from miles per hour (km/h) to miles per hour (km/h) by the Motor Car Act 1903 and two years before the formation of the The Automobile Association. After the 1903 event it moved to Olympia in London, where it was held for the next 32 years before moving to Earl's Court, London from 1937 until 1976, except for the duration of World War II during which time where were no shows held. From 1978 until 2004 it was held every other year at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham, with the 2004 event being held in May, rather than the traditional October to avoid a clash with the Frankfurt and Paris Motor Shows. The 2006 and 2008 shows were held back in ExCeL, London prior to the cancellation of the 2010 and 2012 shows due to the Late-2000s recession. Motorfair, an alternative London show was held at Earls Court biannually from 1977 to 1999. Motorexpo, a smaller, non-international show started in 1996 and is held annually at Canary Wharf.
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