OEMs lock down exhibit space for the 2012 Washington Auto Show, yielding a six percent increase in square footage

OEMs lock down exhibit space for the 2012 Washington Auto Show, yielding a six percent increase in square footage

Earlier this week, all the automakers that had exhibit space in the 2011 Washington Auto Show (WAS) re-committed to space in 2012 and, in fact, took 6 percent more space in the composite. The WAS lays out annually over two floors and 750,000 square feet and is the largest exposition the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Once again this year the WAS will dedicate nearly 10 percent of the show floor to The Advanced Technology Super Highway (ATS). Each OEM exhibitor will be offered complimentary space in the ATS to be joined by a host of special exhibitors displaying the gamut of cutting-edge innovations in alternative fuels–including fueling infrastructure–along with the latest strides in motor vehicle passenger safety.

If the past is prologue, Congressional leaders and high level regulators and operatives from the Obama administration will likely tour the ATS pavilion as a precursor to visiting the individual OEM exhibitor displays.

OEM exhibitor representatives at the WAS space meeting also were enthusiastic about the ride-n-drive opportunities some took advantage of in this years show, suggesting that this popular exhibitor offering will become even more so in 2012.

OEM exhibitors are pretty much in the same location for the 2012 WAS that they were in 2011. A floor plan showing the exact locations will be available soon.

Each year, WANADA hosts advertising sales representatives from the various TV and radio stations and newspapers that cover Washington to present plans for the upcoming auto show. The space draw for the 2012 Washington Auto Show occurred the following day, July 26.