Third consecutive increase underlines the continued importance auto shows play in consumers’ buying process.
TORONTO, Feb. 26, 2018 /CNW/ – Driven by more than 40 new car unveilings and a number of extra added attractions including the 50 Years of Hot Wheels and the 70 Years of Porsche, the 2018 Canadian International AutoShow set a new attendance record for the third consecutive year.
When the show closed at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25, a total of 358,842 people had passed through the turnstiles at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, eclipsing the record set a year ago of 339,590. Included in the new total was a record one-day attendance of 54,487, which was set on Feb. 18, the Sunday of the three-day Ontario Family Day long weekend.
Jason Campbell, general manager of the AutoShow, points to how important auto shows are in helping consumers make decisions on which new car to purchase.
“The automobile marketplace, which is one of the main drivers of the Ontario economy, is still strong,” Campbell said. “People who are in the market for a new car have no better place than the AutoShow to compare brands and models. I suggest our attendance numbers bear this out.”
The 2018 AutoShow began with an appearance on Media Preview Day of Swedish entrepreneur and car designer Christian Von Koenigsegg, who showed off his Koenigsegg Agera S hypercar, the fastest production automobile on the planet. After that, the AutoShow never looked back and went on to set an increase in attendance every day of the 10-day show except one.
|
Daily Attendance — 2018 CIAS |
|
|
Media Day/VIP Night |
13,700 |
|
Feb. 16 |
21,385* |
|
Feb. 17 |
48,482* |
|
Feb. 18 |
54,487** |
|
Feb. 19 |
50,132* |
|
Feb. 20 |
23,477 |
|
Feb. 21 |
17,591 |
|
Feb. 22 |
18,216 |
|
Feb. 23 |
24,050 |
|
Feb. 24 |
52,395* |
|
Feb. 25 |
34,927* |
|
TOTAL |
358,842* |
|
*Denotes a record attendance **Denotes one-day historical highest record attendance |
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About the Canadian International AutoShow
With more than 650,000 square feet of exhibits, displays and attractions at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the Canadian International AutoShow is not only the largest automotive expo in Canada, it is also the country’s largest consumer show — a leader in lifestyle, technology and all things automotive. It boasts more than 1,000 cars, trucks, SUVs, concept cars, exotics, classics, muscle cars, fully electric and autonomous vehicles each year.
