Driving The LA Auto Show
Drive at the show but buy from a dealer
After two-and-a-half years of a pandemic, the LA Auto Show organizers say they have a record-setting number of indoor and outdoor driving experiences.
By Roy Nakano
Sat, Oct 22, 2022 08:25 PM PST
Featured image: Camp Jeep at the LA Auto Show will allow you to test drive a "Trail Ready" vehicle in a manner like you’ll never get to do at your local dealer.
All images by the author.
Evidently, the LA Auto Show organizers have been taking stock of the state of car sales at car dealerships. There are fewer cars on the lots now than any time in recent memory. You can thank the pandemic and the resulting microchip shortage for playing a major role in this. If you want a car without paying a premium, be prepared to special order it. Manufacturers are looking at special orders as the norm for the future. Consequently, the shrinking inventories have made many dealers reluctant to freely offer test drives of their precious commodity of cars.
So for this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show, the local dealership-backed organizers are getting ready to offer more opportunities to test-drive cars than ever before in its 115-year history. The organizers say they will have the largest selection of indoor and outdoor driving experiences in the show's history.
Test Drive At The LA Auto Show - Purchase From Your Local Dealer
It’s a pretty simple plan for car sales in this new era: Test drive the car at the show, and then order the car at your local dealership. To back up the driving opportunities, the organizers are promising the largest display of automotive brands under a single roof. "In total, more than one million square feet of indoor and outdoor space will be utilized, presenting an unparalleled experience for both car shoppers and the automotive brands looking to reach them," according to Los Angeles Auto Show President Terri Toennies.
"The show will be highlighted by displays from Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Charge Cars, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, ElectraMeccanica, Fiat, Ford, Genesis, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, INDI EV, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Nissan, Porsche, Ram, Subaru, Supernal (Advanced Air Mobility), Toyota, VinFast, Volkswagen and Volvo."
Will this strategy work? We will soon find out, as the LA Auto Show is now less than a month away. In the meantime, neither rain nor heat, nor microchip shortages, nor depleted inventories at car lots will evidently stop the show organizers from driving home its plan.
About the LA Auto Show®
In their own words, here’s what the organizers have to say about the show:
The show runs for 10 full days over the Thanksgiving period and is a destination for industry influencers, car enthusiasts and families wanting to enjoy a day out over the holiday season. Held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the LA Auto Show contributes several hundred million dollars to the local economy, stimulates the local job market, and is the number one revenue generator for the LA Convention Center.
Taking place on November 17, AutoMobility LA media and industry day will include a range of groundbreaking industry announcements and reveals. Doors open to the public November 18-27. LA Auto Show is owned and operated by ANSA Productions. To receive the latest show news and information, follow the LA Auto Show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and sign up for alerts at laautoshow.com.
The Los Angeles Auto Show will offer an opportunity for guests to experience and compare the most brands - all in one place. Attendees will have an unprecedented number of test-drives and ride along opportunities, thanks to the largest selection of indoor and outdoor driving experiences in the show's history.
For adventurous show-goers, ride-alongs will be presented by Camp Jeep, Ford Bronco Built Wild and Ram Truck Territory. Outside the Convention Center, street test drives will be available from Alfa Romeo, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Jeep, Ram, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen.
Underscoring California's position as the country's leader in electric vehicle ownership, closed-course EV test-drive tracks will be offered indoors by Ford, Hyundai and Nissan. Additionally, the LA Auto Show will offer an outdoor EV Test Track sponsored by Electrify America and LADWP, which will feature models from Kia, Porsche, VinFast and Volkswagen, with additional brands to be announced soon.
Experiencing the Los Angeles Auto Show will extend beyond cars, crossovers, SUVs and trucks, providing attendees with an up-close look at the newest products in urban air mobility, electric scooters and e-bikes.
Tickets And Pricing
The Los Angeles Auto Show will be cashless; tickets can be purchased online at laautoshow.com/tickets or at on-site ticketing kiosks with a credit or bank card. Individual tickets, family, and VIP packages include:
Any Day General Admission Tickets: Adult $22, Senior $12, Child $6
VIP Early Entry on Saturdays and Sundays: Adult $45, Senior $24, Child $12
VIP Guided Tours on Select Weekdays and Weekends: Adult $100, Child $45
Wednesday/Thursday Thanksgiving Family Four-Packs: $65
Special programs and ticketing options for military personnel and first responders are also available. For groups of 20 or more, please contact the Los Angeles Auto Show directly for group ticket pricing.
For additional information, please visit laautoshow.com. Also, check out this full frame video of the LA Auto Show highlights.
About The Author
Roy Nakano gave birth to LACar in the late '90s, having previously delivered LA Audio File back in the '80s. Aside from the occasional review, Roy likes to stray off the beaten automotive path: "Six Degrees of Reparations" reflected on the regretful ethical paths taken by car companies throughout history. "Traveling Through the Past and Present of the Green Book" looked at businesses that took a stand against racism and the man that wrote the book on where to find them. "Best Cars to Drive in Rush Hour Traffic" was an LACar guide published in the pre-GPS era. "In Search of the First Datsun 510 Tuner" looked at one of the milestones in the origin of import tuners.
