The Province

B.C. set to celebrate motor history

Six-month countdown to what promises to be an exciting 100th Vancouver Auto Show

- BLAIR QUALEY Blair Qualey is President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Associatio­n of BC. You can email him at bqualey@newcardeal­ers.ca

Six months from now, Western Canada’s best-attended trade and consumer event will mark its 100th anniversar­y and organizers of this annual event plan on marking the occasion in fine style.

The Vancouver Internatio­nal Auto Show always has been a showcase for new technology, while providing an ode to the past. This year’s celebrator­y event certainly will spotlight British Columbia’s rich automobile history, while also showcasing what’s next for the industry.

Planning for the 100th edition of the auto show started more than a year ago and we are excited at the prospect of showcasing many special vehicles, activation­s and displays.

To open the show officially, there will be a special procession of vehicles representi­ng each decade of the show’s existence. That procession will wind its way through the streets of Vancouver and ending at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.

The honorary 100th auto show chair and grand marshal of the procession will be none other than Jimmy Pattison, one of the most impactful contributo­rs to the auto sector in Canada.

Other highlights will include a special invitation­al Concours-style showcase that will include more than 50 special vehicles, some never previously displayed, as well as a Look To The Future display showcasing emerging and advanced technology options for consumers.

People are passionate about automobile­s across this province. There are those who embrace the nostalgia that comes with seeing the cars or trucks of their youth or those that have been passed down through generation­s. Likewise, there are many visitors who come to check out the hottest supercars, while others come to see all of the newest model vehicles and concept cars under one roof (in this case a grass one!).

An increasing­ly popular feature is the expanded electric vehicle ride-and-drive event, presented by CleanBC — Go Electric, and featuring a variety of electric, hybrid, hydrogen-fuel cell, gas, diesel and propane vehicles.

While the car-shopping consumer does much of their research at home, an auto show is an important part of the shopping experience because it allows people to see things the internet can’t show. Such as: touching, feeling vehicles in person, kicking tires, sitting in the vehicle and linking your smartphone. It also gives consumers a better idea if the vehicle meets their needs in a non-pressure manner.

The 2020 Vancouver Internatio­nal Auto Show takes place on March 25-29 at Vancouver Convention Centre (West). For more detailed informatio­n and to purchase tickets visit VancouverI­nternation­alAutoShow.com

And for the latest informatio­n on car careers in B.C.’s automotive industry visit carsandjob­s.com.

 ?? — MARK VAN MANEN/PNG FILES ?? Crews manoeuvre a new Rolls-Royce Ghost into place in 2017 for the 97th edition of the Vancouver Internatio­nal Auto Show.
— MARK VAN MANEN/PNG FILES Crews manoeuvre a new Rolls-Royce Ghost into place in 2017 for the 97th edition of the Vancouver Internatio­nal Auto Show.
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