2016 Auto Show prep in Washington underway
Auto shows everywhere show their value
As youêre sweltering in the Washington summer, WANADA is hard at work preparing for the 2016 Washington Auto Show next winter. The theme is The Power of Mobility, and the dates are set: January 20 is Policy Preview Day on Capitol Hill, and January 21 is Policy Preview Day at the W.E. Washington Convention Center, with a daylong schedule of events for government, industry and media capped off by the annual Sneak Peek Reception on the Auto Show floor. The consumer days for the Auto Show are January 22 to January 31. Start wishing now for some of summerês warmth to seep into January or at least for a snow-free show.
Housing registration is now open, with special discounts on room rates for industry, media and government officials. Reservations can be booked by clicking here.
As an extra incentive to encourage customers to attend the show, a new study details the power of auto shows. The study, commissioned by Auto Shows of North America (ASNA), found that 57 percent of show attendees nationally were planning to buy a new car within a year, and one-fourth of that group left the show with their minds made up.
Auto shows captivate people, Lou Vitantonio, chairman of ASNA, said in a statement. They educate, entertain and amaze. Consumers know they can see a wide variety of new vehicle technologies, including those that will make them safer on the road, be kinder to the environment and provide them with a more entertaining experience. Plus, all of these can be found under one roof.
Showgoers spend an average of three and a half hours at an auto show. Sixty percent are men and 32 percent are millennials (ages 18 to 34). Other highlights from the study:
« Three-quarters of showgoers planned in advance which displays to visit.
« About 70 percent of those who were influenced by a show talked to a product specialist.
« Nearly half of attendees added or subtracted brands to their consideration based on what they saw at a show.
« More than half of showgoers cross-shopped vehicles before their purchase.
Next weekês Bulletin: Report on the WAS Space Draw for OEMs.
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