2017 Philadelphia Auto Show is in Full Swing
The Philadelphia Auto Show kicked off this weekend, starting Saturday, January 28th at the Philadelphia Convention Center. It will run through February 5th, giving you plenty of time to check it out.
The show comes at a time when the U.S. auto industry is booming. Experts attribute the record sales numbers to pent-up demand still lingering from the Great Recession. According to Kevin Mazzucola of the Auto Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia, last year was the second record-setting year in a row for the industry. Some 17.5 million cars, trucks, and SUVs were sold in the United States last year, evidence of growth that hasn’t been as strong since World War II.
The Philadelphia Auto Show will likely draw 250,000 visitors and have a strong impact on local vehicle sales.
According to IHS Markit, about 400,000 vehicles were sold in the designated market area (DMA) of Southeastern Pennsylvania (including Philadelphia), New Jersey, and Delaware. Of those, 196,000 – almost half – were sold in the five-county region that constitutes the Philadelphia metro area, making Philly the perfect place for the Auto Show.
The show has a number of exciting features for you to check out, and it is great for families. For the first time this year, the Auto Show has a display of Hollywood vehicles, including replicas from some of your favorite TV shows and movies. You’ll see a replica of the Batmobile, the Ghostbusters’ iconic ride, the shaggy wagon from “Dumb and Dumber,” and one of the Jeeps from Jurassic Park, among others.
According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, “The Philadelphia Auto Show is one of the largest auto shows in the country, according to the Auto Dealers Association. Each year the convention attracts about 250,000 guests, generating about $50 million in economic impact.” It’s important in other ways, too. Some 90 percent of car buyers in the region say that they are influenced by the show, and 50 percent of visitors will buy a new car some time in the next twelve months. That’s why the show is important to dealers, manufacturers, and drivers alike.
