New York auto show to be no-show once again due to coronavirus delta variant

The New York International Auto Show won’t happen this month as planned, thanks to the rapidly evolving impacts of the coronavirus delta variant. It’s the second year in a row that the virus has prompted the show’s cancellation.

Organizers announced Wednesday they would cancel the show, which had been scheduled to be open to the public Aug. 20-29, because of “the growing incidences of the COVID-19 delta variant and the

increased measures announced recently by state and local officials to stop its spread.”

The news follows a surge in COVID-19 cases around the country and announcement of a vaccine mandate in New

York City. Mayor Bill de Blasio just this week said proof of vaccination would be required for a range of indoor activities.

A New York auto show news release highlighted the rapidly changing situation involving the virus.

“Over the past few weeks, and especially within the last few days, circumstances have changed making it more difficult to create an event at the high standard that we and our clients expect. At the onset of planning for the August show, we were increasingly excited at the prospect of hosting the event as the number of vaccinations in New York continued to climb and mask-wearing reduced the spread in the city. All signs were positive, and the show was coming together stronger than ever, but today is a different story,” the release said.

The sudden announcement upends plans for resumption of an auto show that was first delayed and then canceled last year because of COVID-19. The Jacob K.

Javits Convention Center, where the show is held, had been set up last year as a field hospital.

It was one of the many auto show cancelations last year, including the once-planned summer move for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Media events at the now-canceled New York show had been planned for brands including Ford, Jeep, Subaru, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan and Toyota, along with a focus on electrification though an “EV Test Fest, complete with an entire floor dedicated to electric vehicles and four indoor EV test tracks.”

The shift to summer for the New York show would have been a first, and a statement from show President Mark Schienberg, indicated the plan is to return next year to the traditional spring schedule.

The cancelation comes as the pandemic situation has rapidly changed in the United States in recent weeks. Cases connected to the delta variant have been rising across the country, with hospitalizations up, especially among the unvaccinated, and officials in government, health, education, business and other realms have been scrambling to respond. Mask mandates, including for Detroit Three autoworkers, are resuming, and an increasing number of employers and institutions are adding vaccination requirements.

The New York show would have followed the Chicago Auto Show, held last month, and fallen in between the replacement events for this year’s North American International Auto Show. The Detroit Auto Dealers Association is planning the Motor City Car Crawl for Aug. 5-8 and Motor Bella at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Mich., for Sept. 21-26.