The Mercury News

2019 LA Auto Show offers industry global showcase

- By James Raia CORRESPOND­ENT

The yearly L.A. Auto Show is a must-attend event for experts and those who view automobile­s and trucks as necessary annoyances. It’s the first major car show of the season despite is unique dates near the end of the calendar year.

A multi-floor, multi-hall extravagan­za is home for more than 500 exhibits and dozens of manufactur­ers’ North American or global debuts of their vehicles. The show is a welcomed automotive overload, and it will be held Nov. 22- Dec.

1 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

It’s all about entry-level cars, top-end luxury vehicles, the everexpand­ing alternativ­e fuel industry, custom made machines and bizarre concepts. But unlike visiting a car dealership where the goal of salespeopl­e is to sell, auto shows are daylong public question and answer sessions.

Attendees are encouraged to ask manufactur­ers’ representa­tives, sometimes called ambassador­s or product specialist­s, about the new vehicles. The consultant­s aren’t salespeopl­e but have a singular goal to praise new vehicles.

The practice of hiring attractive women as manufactur­ers’ representa­tives at auto shows dates to the 1930s. Books have been written about the subject and the tradition has been criticized as outdated. In recent years, young attractive men have also been hired as manufactur­er ambassador­s.

But the vehicles are in the biggest spotlights. Some manufactur­ers keep what’s new until models are unveiled. Other carmakers get a jump start and promote pending new offerings months in advance.

The LA Auto Show competes with other events for manufactur­ers’ announceme­nts, but it’s likely to have a larger prominence this year. The North American Internatio­nal Auto Show, often called the Detroit Auto Show, has been moved from January to June next year. The Las

 ??  ?? The Rivian concept SUV debuted at the 2018 LA Auto Show. Photo © James Raia/2018
The Rivian concept SUV debuted at the 2018 LA Auto Show. Photo © James Raia/2018
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States