Los Angeles Auto Show organizers last year had big plans for a full, mask-free emergence from Covid-19. What organizers couldn’t have anticipated was a 46-day strike by the United Auto Workers and a fire in the city’s downtown district.
Beginning in mid-September, the strike affected workers from Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, the international automaker founded in 2021 and including 14 brands. The fire occurred November 11th, about 10 days before some of the show’s preamble events.
In the near immediate aftermath shutdown of Interstate 10 and its exits and entrances, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared: “Angelinos, please stay on the freeways.”
What remained for the automotive industry’s annual end-of-the-calender-year start to the new season was a streamlined edition. New vehicles and related industry showcases — electric vehicle test drives to vintage car exhibits — were displayed with plenty of open space. Some events slated for outdoor setups were brought inside to fill-up empty spaces.
“Yes, there was a little bit of a gap in there that normally you wouldn’t normally see at an L.A. Auto Show and that you will not see this year,” said Andy Steinhauser, the event’s director of sponsorship & business development. “That was probably noticeable and the industry has gone through some evolution.
“The concept of auto shows is being moved into a more consumer-focused event. But we are also working hard to bring back the industry event and re-imagine it for what it’s going to be for the future.”
Some manufacturers have opted for private events only to debut vehicles. It’s occurred at the LA Auto Show with more regularity in recent years.
The 2024 LA Auto Show, which began in 1907 with 99 vehicles from 46 manufacturers, is scheduled for its 10-day run beginning Nov. 22. More than 1,000 vehicles will be displayed in convention center halls and on surrounding grounds. Several consumer test drives from EVs and off-road specific brands are scheduled.
As a late-year event, the LA Auto Show is unique but in line with the evolving industry. Vehicles debut throughout the calendar year, resulting in potentially 2024 to 2026 models showcased as new.
Stellantis will be among several returning manufacturers with many of its brands. Porsche, which traditionally has its own side hall presence, will return as will Buick, GMC and Hummer. Debuting will be INEOS Automotive and its Grenadier and Grenadier Quartermaster models. The Nilu Hypercar, unveiled during Monterey Auto Week in August, will be showcased in Southern California for the first time.
Mainstay brands will include Alfa Romeo to Volkswagen and Cadillac to Toyota. The show has its annual examples of concepts, wannabe brands and bespoke oddities.
“We serve two audiences,” said Steinhauser. “One is, ‘I like cars; I love cars.’ You’re always going to love the show no matter who is there. The other audience maybe doesn’t come every year, but they come every two or three years when it’s time to get that new lease out they’re ready to car shop or the family dynamics have changed.”
A first this year is the Fleet Mobility Showcase. It’s an exhibition of vehicles, technology, and product innovations in the fleet sector. Passenger cars to Class 8 heavy duty trucks will be included from Ford Pro, Nikola, Isuzu, GM Envolve, Bollinger Motors and Motiv Power Systems.
In recent years, Byton, Canoo, EdisonFuture, Elio, Fisker and Mullen, among other carmakers, were displayed with great promise and fanfare at the LA Auto Show. All are gone, on “hiatus” or “in development.”
“We provide an environment that you can just see it all in one place and it kind of just can’t be replicated,” said Steinhauser.
LA Auto Show information, including ticket prices, show hours, transportation options and parking, is available via the website laautoshow.com; email: help@laautoshow.com; phone: (310) 444-1850.
James Raia, a syndicated automotive columnist in Sacramento, also writes about business, lifestyle, sports and travel for several print and digital publications. E-mail: james@jamesraia.com.
