Vancouver International Auto Show organizers expect this year's April 3-8 extravaganza at the renovated B.C. Place to be the largest since 2008, when the event changed from being a 10-day exhibit to being a six-day show.
Last year, when the auto show moved temporarily to the Vancouver Convention Centre, 81,039 people came to view cars and speak with dealers.
New Car Dealers Association of B.C. CEO Blair Qualey told Business in Vancouver Wednesday that high gasoline prices have many consumers seeking lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles, but other attendees are technology buffs looking for new technology such as systems to help with parallel parking or dashboard computers that automatically read out emails.
"This continues to be a terrific time for consumers," said Qualey. "We have had, for quite some time, the lowest prices on vehicles in a generation as a percentage of income. We also have low financing rates, an incredible selection of vehicles and exciting new technology."
Organizer optimism is partly driven Central 1 Credit Union predictions earlier this week that new vehicle sales in B.C. will rise about 9% in 2012 compared with 2011. (See "New vehicle sales set to rise: Central 1" – BIV Business Today; March 20.)
New vehicle sales increased a comparatively modest 1.4% in B.C. last year.
