2021 Washington Auto Show Pushed Back to March
The 2021 Washington, D.C. Auto Show has been postponed to buy organizers time to prepare for a virus everyone has known about since the start of 2020.
“We believe this scheduling change is in the best interests of our attendees, our partnering auto manufacturers, and the District of Columbia,” Washington, D.C. Auto Show CEO John O’Donnell said in a release on Friday. “Our top priority is to ensure the safety of all involved in this show, and we believe strongly that a two-month delay will better allow us to produce the type of well-rounded and immersive show that our attendees are accustomed to.”
Originally scheduled to open on January 29th, the motor show will now take place between March 26th and April 4th. That’s assuming the event isn’t outright cancelled, anyway. That’s been the trend for automotive trade shows and most major events since we decided “15 Days to Slow the Spread” would just reset at the end of the second week and COVID-19 became Schrödinger’s Virus thanks to some of the least consistent reporting in modern history.
At this stage, its primarily large cities and a smattering of extra-cautious states that continue pushing the most aggressive preventative measures. And metropolitan areas tend to be the places were events go down, forcing organizers to enact delays or simply shut them down. But it has become tiresome, especially since event planners have had months to prepare and don’t have many excuses beyond thinking this would have blown over by 2021.
The previous Washington Auto Show actually took place during the pandemic’s opening moves (Jan. 29-Feb. 7) with some of the highest attendance figures ever recorded, though that happened while the country was having political arguments about whether health-related travel restrictions with China were prudent or racist.
Still, we have to cut Washington a little slack. Despite the widespread politicization of the pandemic, valid health concerns remain and nobody wants their event to be accused of ramping up contagion rates. But the announcement never really addressed any specific measure the indoor event will take to curb infection — making it seem as if they’re just biding their time before deciding if a cancellation is in order.
The Washington, D.C. Auto Show’s organizers say they are working “on a robust health and safety plan that will prioritize consumer and staff safety and cleanliness, while reflecting the best practices and guidelines that remain in effect in late March of 2021.” So, basically whatever the city stipulates has to be done 7 months from now. An update on that, as well as the event’s general program, will be issued in “the coming months.”
Acura, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, GMC, Jeep, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Lincoln, Nissan, Ram, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen have all reserved display areas at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. There’s a chance some might pull out if they feel the risk is too great, or that the masses will just end up staying home.
[Image: Washington Auto Show]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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My buddy and I would usually try to go every year. He lives a couple blocks from the convention center so it was a long trip for me to get to his place but a short walk from there. I don't know anymore - I see enough crossovers on the road, I don't really need to go see some indoors, let alone pay for the privilege. Let me know when coupes and sedans come back en vogue.
I can honestly say that I saw a Chrysler Lebaron at the last car show I attended. It has been a while.