largest new vehicle showroom in San Diego County. It was incredible to see the sheer number of people attending each day. The exhibit halls and test drives were full of new car buyers who were there to comparison shop for a new vehicle purchase or lease — which ranked number two on the list of top reasons to attend the show. While visiting manufacturer exhibits, engaging with product specialists and taking test drives, consumers were adding vehicles to their consideration lists and making purchase decisions right then and there. That means good things for San Diego County new car dealers because auto show attendees told us that no form of advertising influences more new vehicle purchases in San Diego County than the auto show — not TV, not radio and not even digital. Exhibitor feedback on site reflected the impressive attendee turnout and excitement. Manufacturer representatives we spoke to were surprised and impressed by the crowds returning to the San Diego International Auto Show. More than one mentioned that they were understaffed to manage the volume of consumer inquiries. Others noted that they wish they’d had more exhibit space for additional vehicles to better reflect the interest of car buyers on site to comparison shop. As our auto show Chairman and Premier Automotive’s Vince Castro put it: “The San Diego Auto Show blew away my expectations. I saw large crowds that were thirsty to see the latest cars they couldn’t see on dealers’ lots, and they were hungry for information. In my 35 years of seeing auto shows, I don’t recall seeing large groups consistently gather around the exhibitors’ podiums, listening to their presentations. The need for our future buying guest to experience all the senses the show presented was never more evident than in the shows ride and drives which, again, were consistently full to drive vehicles they couldn’t even see on dealers’ lots, especially the EVs.” When it comes to EVs, this year’s San Diego Auto Show delivered with 30 different EV models on display or available for a test drive. Survey results confirmed that the San Diego Auto Show will lead San Diego’s transformation to an all-electric future as the largest and most important EV event continued from page 4 “For busy moms like me, the auto show is a wonderful no‑pressure way to comparison shop. It’s how I picked my previous vehicle.” 6 SAN DIEGO DEALER
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