Toronto’s auto show going virtual in 2021
TORONTO, Ont., Sept. 15, 2020 — Toronto auto enthusiasts will have to wait until February 2022 to experience Canada’s largest auto show in person. Due to COVID-19 concerns, organisers for the Canadian International AutoShow have decided to take the popular annual event virtual for 2021. In their news release, organisers cite the health and safety of AutoShow consumers and auto industry participants as the primary concern for postponing the in-person show to February 2022.
In their statement, organisers say “With ongoing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and continued safety measures to stem the spread of the virus, the Canadian International AutoShow, Canada’s largest annual consumer show, is going solely virtual in 2021.”
“While mass indoor gatherings remain prohibited in Canada’s largest market, and the public – along with all levels of government – stand committed to ensuring that this global pandemic remains in-check here in Ontario and across Canada, the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) has taken the decision to postpone the in-person AutoShow to February 2022, and focus on delivering an immersive world class automotive showcase on a virtual platform instead.
“The health and safety of AutoShow consumers, and all of those who work within the automotive industry, are the primary concern of the AutoShow – a fundamental factor behind the decision to move in this new direction for 2021’s event,” reads the statement.
“With restrictions to public gatherings in Ontario limited for the foreseeable future, our annual automotive showcase that attracts more than 330,000 visitors on average each year simply couldn’t be considered at this time,” says AutoShow General Manager Jason Campbell.
“The AutoShow has become a must-visit showcase for both new car buyers and automotive enthusiasts alike, and we’re still committed to ensuring that the hundreds of thousands who would normally visit the Show in person to learn, explore and be fascinated by the latest innovations on offer, will continue to be able to engage with this great event – just in a new, more widely accessible way,” added Campbell.
“The pandemic is forcing us to fully embrace a digital future that has become the norm,” says David McClean, Director of Marketing at the AutoShow. “We’re engaged with all manufacturers, sponsors and exhibitors to continue telling their story through our new virtual AutoShow. It will be the World’s first virtual AutoShow and run as a true event – one that excites and drives the new car consumer market in the critical spring buying season. As the automotive landscape changes, the Canadian International AutoShow changes with it, leading the way in terms of how the automotive world connects with consumers. ”
