Regional auto shows are planning a comeback in 2024 in at least three centres: Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa.
There will be changes, but the shows will be back, Calgary from March 7 – 10, Vancouver, March 20-24 and Ottawa, March 21-24, according to its website.
Jim Gillespie, manager of the Calgary International Auto and Truck Show, said the show will be one day shorter than in previous years, but is going ahead with or without manufacturer support. Currently, there is no direct automaker participation, “it’s all CMDA member backing.”
“I’ve got super strong support from dealers and there’s more than 25 brands committed,” said Gillespie, also executive manager of the Calgary Motor Dealers Association.
“All the exotics are aboard, and we have a lot of luxury vehicles coming. The heavy trucks will also be back.”
Continued construction activity on the show’s usual venue, the Calgary BMO centre, will limit available floor space and electric vehicles are going to take up a chunk of what’s left.
THE 'NEED TO BE INSIDE'
One of the biggest changes will be the addition of a 25,000-square-foot (2,322 square metres) indoor electric vehicle test track.
“We need to be inside given the unpredictable weather during our show dates,” Gillespie said.
EV test tracks also were popular features at the Toronto and Montreal auto shows this year, although Gillespie said he was sold in them when he attended the Los Angeles event last November.
“I first saw the EV track at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and it was such an immense hit, I knew we had to have a similar feature in any future Calgary event.”
The limited space and EV feature has brought a big change in display layout, said Gillespie.
“Every booth will be limited to 5,000 square feet (465 square metres), meaning there will be no super-sized booths as in past shows … and exhibitors can arrange that space however they like.”
The Vehicles and Violins Charity Gala is also returning and will be held March 6.
Proceeds from the Gala will be going to the CMDA Charity Foundation to enable it to continue its support of community charities.
Gillespie said one of his biggest aims is to fund the CMDA’s Tools for Schools program which supports automotive programs in Calgary High Schools.
“I’m visiting every high school automotive program in the city to document their needs,” he said, adding “these programs are incredible, and they turn out hundreds of auto-minded graduates. There’s even an all-girls program at one school.”
Blair Qualey, president of the New Car Dealers of B.C., which owns the Vancouver show would only release a couple of details.
He said contracts have been signed with the show’s traditional venue, the Vancouver Convention Centre and organizers are working on “some special exhibits,” including a change in their EV ride-and-drive feature which will begin and end inside the show building.
“That will make it more comfortable for customers should the weather be cold and rainy, as it often is in Vancouver in March.”
He added that talks are ongoing with automakers and their feedback “is a little more positive than in the past.”
Organizers for the Ottawa event were not available for comment.
