Ahhh… Louis Vuitton fans and automobile afficionados everywhere will be disappointed to hear that the Louis Vuitton Classic, China Run originally slated to begin May 23, has been postponed until further notice.

It seems that the commotion that errupted following the Olympic Torch pass through Paris (and Chinese Boycott of Louis Vuitton that resulted) have taken its toll.

A new date has yet to be scheduled… and it looks like the Chinese authorities are behind the idea 100%.  Everyone just wants to make sure that this is a “high-quality event”.

Read more about it in WWD.

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Well, it looks like heck of a lot of people in China are still ticked off about the fiasco that ensued with the Olympic torch as it was carried through Paris. They’re boycotting Louis Vuitton- and all LVMH companies in protest.

French President Nicholas Sarkozy has stepped up to the plate, and is apparently now trying to patch things up. He sent an a letter of apology to Olympic torch holding, Paralympic athlete, fencer Jin Jing, saying:

“I would like to express to you my deep feeling towards the way you were shoved in Paris on April 7 when you were holding the Olympic flame… I understand the Chinese people’s feelings were hurt by what went on that day, and especially by the intolerable attack you suffered and which I condemn with the utmost force.”

The Chinese spend A LOT of money on luxury goods- third only to Japan and the US. LVMH is depending on China to hedge the sluggish economic situation we’re dealing with here in the US of A!

Today, WWD pointed out,

“Louis Vuitton plans to send some of the world’s finest vintage cars roaring through China next month as it opens its second location in Chengdu — and is considering third and fourth locations in that city alone as demand for European luxury booms in the Asian giant.”

Read more about it from Bloomberg…

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(Founder and Chief of LVMH, Bernard Arnault)

Apparently, Bernard Arnault isn’t worried about the recent boycott of LVMH that’s spread across cyber space through Chinese blogs, chat rooms and discussion forums. The Cyber Boycott includes not only Louis Vuitton handbags and accessories, but all 60 companies owned and operated by LVMH including Christian Dior, Tag Heuer, Fendi, Marc Jacobs, etc. So far, over 20 million people have signed online petitions to join the boycott. (Read more here: NYT)

China is Louis Vuitton’s third largest market (behind Japan and the USA)… but Arnault said in Le Figaro, “The consequences for our company are very limited”. (Read more here: Forbes)

(Picture Credit: Patrick Kovarik for the New York Times)

The boycott stems from not only the little debacle as the Olympic torch worked its way through Paris, April 8 but general Western support of Tibet. Protesters for Human Rights and Tibetan freedom actually managed to extinguish the flame a few times in the scuffle.

Arnault actually said in response to the torch incident, “If we want to have dialogues with China, the Olympic torch should not have been a target of attacks when it passed Western cities… boycotting the Olympics is not a solution.”

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