Nissan unveiled three new additions to its US lineup (Cube, 370Z and Infiniti G37) at the Los Angeles Auto Show last week.

In weighing whether to come to Detroit and show the vehicles again, “we felt this was probably right now, not the best way to invest marketing money,” said spokesman Alan Buddendeck.

The company said in a statement that its decision was “based on the fact that we have no major new products to show at the 2009 Detroit and Chicago auto shows as well as the current economic conditions which will impact the shows’ marketing effectiveness.”

Two other Japanese automakers—Suzuki and Mitsubishi—have also decided to pull out, as has Porsche.