Hundreds of new cars and trucks are on display at the annual International Auto Show in downtown San Diego — but getting special attention this year are electric vehicles, as California ramps up efforts to phase out gasoline-powered passenger vehicles over the next decade.
A special bonus for car enthusiasts is a 65,000-square-foot indoor EV test track, housed within the San Diego Convention Center, where attendees can sit alongside a professional driver to experience firsthand the feel of vehicles from a range of brands, from Cadillac and Chevrolet to Toyota and Volvo. Outdoor test drives are also being offered for both electric and gas-powered vehicles.
It’s notable that every exhibit on display will feature at least one electric vehicle, said show spokesperson Joe Rohatynski. As a measure of San Diego County’s growing EV market, the number of electric vehicles this year surpasses that of previous shows.
Visitors check out the new 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz at the San Diego International Auto Show. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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Newly added to the auto show this year are three brands — among them McLaren, known for its performance road cars, including the Artura supercar, which will be on display.
In all, more than 250 vehicles from 14 manufacturers are featured this year.
That’s down from the pre-pandemic show of 2019-2020, when more than 400 vehicles from 25 carmakers were showcased. That’s in part because automakers have since found other ways to market their vehicles that tend to compete with the auto shows, says Rohatynski.
Operated by the New Car Dealers Association San Diego County, the show is the second-largest auto show in California. It runs through Wednesday, with admission prices ranging from $12 to $18.
