GEARING UP
Auto show a ‘testimonial’ to New Mexicans’ love for vehicles
New Mexicans love their vehicles.
From cars to trucks and sport utility vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles, each one says something about the individual.
So the challenge for Charles Henson is to bring some of the top vehicles to the annual New Mexico International Auto Show.
“This event is more of a testimonial to how the people of New Mexico love their cars,” he says. “Each year, we fill up the convention center with vehicles.”
Henson, president of the New Mexico Automotive Dealers Association, says there will be about 300 new cars inside the Convention Center.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity to see the cars without the pace of sales associates,” he says.
At this year’s event, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Ram, Fiat, Ford and Toyota are all offering opportunities to test-drive vehicles.
Henson says that if you are a licensed driver in New Mexico and older than 18, you can sign up to drive the vehicles at the show.
“Each license must be valid, and each driver has to pass a Breathalyzer test,” he says.
Henson says some of the manufacturers will be bringing some prototype vehicles to the show.
The prototypes have replaced the concept vehicles that used to make the rounds at auto shows.
The weekend event is also a family event, Henson says.
“We do not sell alcohol,” he says. “Since the first show, we decided this wasn’t an event to pair alcohol with. We’re in the 14th year now.”
And for the children, Henson says, there are 10 vehicles to drive in the Kids’ Autobahn section.
“I bought over $4,000 worth of these battery-operated cars,” he says. “There are Mustangs, a Chevy police truck, a huge Jeep and a Mercedes-Benz and a Porsche. It’s cute to see the children driving around in these cars.”
Henson says each show takes a lot of work and it’s a great opportunity for the community to see the cars.
“From luxury to sports, it’s all here,” he says. “The vehicles are always the star of the show.”