attend the San Diego Auto Show, these debuts represented a variety of key market segments, including EVs, hybrids, crossovers, sports cars, pickups and sedans. Among the debuts on hand were: • 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV • 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray • 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV • 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV • 2024 Chevrolet Traverse • 2024 Ford F-150 • 2024 Ford Ranger • 2024 Honda Prologue • 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric • 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe • 2024 Kia EV9 • 2024 Kia Sorrento • 2025 Kia Sorrento PHEV • 2024 Lexus GX 500 • 2024 Lexus TX • 2024 Nissan Frontier Hardbody • 2025 Toyota Camry • 2025 Toyota Crown Signia • 2024 Toyota Tacoma • 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Consumers were not restricted to static vehicles and displays as they shopped for their next new vehicles. Dealers know how influential test drives can be, and for those who test-drove a vehicle, it was their number one reason for attending the San Diego Auto Show. Brands offering outdoor test drives this year included Audi, Chevrolet, Ford and Kia. New for this year was the Nissan EV Test Track, which provided a thrilling EV ride experience right on the show floor. And speaking of EVs, this year’s San Diego Auto Show was fully charged with a record 35 different EV models on display and/or available for test drives/rides. That’s 40% more manufacturer EVs than appear at highly touted, EV-only events, and confirmation that the San Diego Auto Show will continue to lead San Diego’s transformation to an all-electric future as the largest and most important EV event in the region. Survey results indicate that more than half of San Diego Auto Show attendees are considering the purchase or lease of a plug-in vehicle, and that number jumps to almost 70% for those who test-drove an EV at the show. And of those who test-drove an EV, it was the first time behind the wheel of an electric vehicle for 40% of them. It’s clear that nowhere else will EV automakers and dealers be able to engage and influence more consumers considering an EV purchase, as well as those on the fence and/or skeptical of EVs. Knowing that many consumers have questions about EV ownership and are interested in comparing EVs side-by-side, Electric Avenue returned as a hub for all things electric and featured a variety of plug-in vehicles from Cadillac, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen. Several manufacturer product specialists and volunteers from the Electric Vehicle Association were on hand to help consumers understand the EV value proposition, and companies in the energy and charging space rounded out the exhibit. The seeds planted at the auto show continue to bear fruit throughout the year and extend well beyond the walls of the convention center, as San Diego Auto Show attendees are considered experts within their peer groups. In fact, two-thirds of San Diego Auto Show attendees give car-buying advice two or more times a year, while 21% offer advice more than six times a year. While consumers are excited to see the wide variety of vehicles and brands on display, our attendee survey also demonstrates that they’re vocal when it comes to brands not represented at the show. More than half of auto show attendees indicate that a brand’s absence will affect their consideration of that brand. Through comments in the survey, car buyers tell us again and again that vehicles they can’t see at the show are pushed further down and often entirely off of their consideration lists in favor of vehicles that are present on the show floor or in test drives. 10 SAN DIEGO DEALER
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