Founded in 1907 at Morley’s Skating Rink, with ninety-nine vehicles on display, the Los Angeles Auto Show (LA Auto Show) is one of the most influential and best-attended auto shows globally and spans more than 870,000 square feet.
With the rapid growth of the automotive industry, the show has changed venues a number of times in sync with the increasing needs of the vendors. In 1926, it was held at Washington for four consecutive years. 1929, the entire show went up in flames as an electric circuit in one of the airplane exhibits caught fire, and more than a million dollars’ worth of damage was incurred. It was, however, reopened at the Shrine auditorium just a day later, with extensive help from the community and enthusiasts who wanted to see the show going.
Second World War and after
Success and popularity caused the show to boom through the 1930’s, but the Second World War, like everything it touched, brought about a big downturn to the show and it remained shut for an entire decade, from 1940 to 1951. In 1952, it was re-opened at the Pan Pacific auditorium, and displayed 152 vehicles both from American and international manufacturers.
The next 50 years saw the show grow into becoming one of the largest and most popular auto shows in the world. In the last decade, the show’s name was changed from “The Greater Los Angeles Auto Show” to the “LA Auto Show”. In the year 2006, the event’s hosting dates were shifted from early January to late November, resulting in its being held twice in the same year.
Every year, the show’s creator ANSA Productions, brings together all the big names of the auto industry, to drop the covers on some of the hottest, fastest, most beautiful and technology driven cars in the whole world. The car culture capital of the world sees some of the greatest advancements in the future of mobility every year, with worldwide media exposure, global industry networking and experimental marketing in the global car market. The trade days, also called the Press days, draw in more than 12000 decision-makers and influential people who’ve made their mark in the auto industry. Also there are thousands of media channels and personnel from more than 50 nations.
The Press days
The show commences with two Press days of full access and activity for journalists, designers and industry representatives. 2008 saw a record number of 23 international and 15 national debuts of models of various makes. Press days include a breakfast sponsored by Motor Press Guild, the “Green car of the year” award, the Design LA conference and the Green Cars Ride and Drive, for the pen and pad, shutterbugs that the show premises in teeming with. The Design LA conference includes the announcement of the Design Challenge results and is attended by Automobile designers and enthusiasts alike on the Thursday night at the Desginers’ Reception.
With the raving success of the event, and in order to space-cater to the display of new technologies like drive assist, and cloud- based infotainment, the show organizers have also created the connected car expo, a one-day conference and three-day expo for automotive and technology companies that are giving a shape to new innovations and “realizing” the future of the connected car.
A million footfalls
Following the Press days, doors are opened to the public and almost a million footfalls are recorded over the period of ten excitement and awe driven days.
The 2014 LA Auto Show plans to raise the bar even higher in terms of visual appeal with the organizers announcing a total of 60 global and American debuts being planned. A few of the brands bringing world debut to the show are Acura, Audi, BMW, Chrysler, GM, Hyundai, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Scion, Toyota, Volvo and Volkswagen.
Adding to these, 30 other vehicles have a North American debut planned. The show opens its doors to the media on the 19th and 20th of November this year and to the general public it is open from the 21st to the 30th.
More than 9,87,000 people flooded into the LA Convention Centre in downtown LA last year, where over 56 new vehicles debuted.
Tickets are up for grabs
The LA autoshow has been used by automakers as a platform to unveil vehicles that fare well in the Southern Californian market. Green cars, hybrids, EVs, and FCVs and sports and luxury cars are all more than welcomed with arms wide open as this region is one of the biggest markets nationally and internationally.
Tickets are now up for sale on the LA Auto Show’s official website and anyone wishing to have their mind blown away by the variety, beauty and high-tech “future of innovation” models should make haste in getting them done for themselves, family, or even friends that share the same passion – Cars.
