OEMs commit to exhibit in the 2018 Washington Auto Show

OEMs commit to exhibit in the 2018 Washington Auto Show

All major new motor vehicle OEMs reserved space in the 2018 Washington Auto Show last week in the landmark DC venue dedicated to journalism everywhere, the Newseum. In all, 32 OEMs took space in the 2018 WAS, pretty much selling out the entire Walter E. Washington Convention Center on two levels and in five exhibit halls. The floor plan for Halls D & E on the upper level is very similar to the 2017 Auto Show; while on the first levelãHalls A, B & Cãthe floor plan has been completely redrawn from previous years and offers a whole new look.

The Washington Auto Show will be open to the public for ten days, commencing Friday, January 26, 2018 and will run through Sunday, February 4. MobilityTalks International, an automotive symposium program that has become part of the WAS, will again have preeminent positioning in Industry/Media Days preceding the Show, rolling out world class speakers and panels of notables from the public sector and across the global industry circuit. In this regard, exciting plans are coming together with the U.S. Senate to convene its key Commerce Committee during Industry/Media Days, consistent with Washingtonês role as the auto industryês Public Policy Auto Show.

New features are in the offing for 2018 as well, with Jaguar Land Rover committing for the first time to an extensive –Drive Experience” inside the Convention Center. The WAS will be the first in the country to host this unique event. More information on the –Drive Experience” soon.

An exciting side light presented to OEMs at the Space Draw is the prospect of The Washington Auto Show cross promoting itself in 2019 with the ever popular Washington Cherry Blossom Festival. In that year, the Auto Show will occur in April, which is the same time as the Cherry Blossom Festival.

With the floor plan now substantially in hand, Washington planners on WANADAês 2018 Auto Show Committee will now focus attention on programming for Industry/Media Days, to include the industryês support of MobilityTalks International.

–Our Washington Auto Show continues to make grand strides on the global circuit as the Public Policy Show because no other auto show in the world has the U.S. Congress down the street, which, for better or worse, is partnered with the industry on automotive design,” said John Ourisman, chairman of the 2018 Washington Auto Show. Joining Ourisman on the WANADA Auto Show Committee are Charlie Stringfellow, Malloy Hyundai; Daniel Jobe, Capitol Cadillac; George Doetsch, Apple Ford/Lincoln; Geoff Pohanka, Pohanka Automotive Group; Kevin Reilly, Alexandria Hyundai; and Mark Zetlin, Mercedes-Benz of Arlington.

For more information on the Washington Auto Show go to www.washingtonautoshow.com, or contact John OêDonnell, producer of the WAS, at (202) 237-7200.