Toronto's 2016 Canadian International AutoShow Wraps With Record Attendance Numbers

Bloodhound Project Jaguar F-Type R Coupe

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy

Last weekend, the 2016 edition of the Canadian International AutoShow concluded as an indoor automotive festival. Latest concept cars like the Toyota U Squared and new Canadian production vehicle introductions such as the Kia Niro Hybrid demonstrated the modern direction of the automobile. The auto show also remained mindful of where 21st century automobiles are rooted with the Art and the Automobile exhibit and auto racing fans delighted in the Indy 500 display. As the collection of new and old vehicles departed the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the gaze of a record crowd left the automotive gathering left satisfied.

From February 12th to February 21st, the 2016 Canadian International AutoShow tallied 320,651 visitors have attended the show. The attendance number is touted as the highest number ever in the TADA (Trillium Automobile Dealers Association) hosted event's 43-year history.“From the global and North American unveilings to the VIP visits to the top-notch displays from manufacturers and other exhibitors, it all helped to make this show the draw that it is to attendees from across Canada and beyond.” said Canadian International AutoShow General Manager Jason Campbell. As typical in recent years since the Ontario provincial government's establishment of Family Day, Monday was one of three highly-attended days where tire kicking was performed (not to concept cars or special display vehicles of course). In addition to February 15th, Tuesday February 16th as well as Saturday February 20th were popular days for visitors to the auto show.

The record-setting 2016 auto show has been the latest to illustrate a steady gain. In 2009, a year where the Canadian International AutoShow occurred during turbulent economic and automotive industry times, total attendance was recorded at 253,384. By 2012, a recovered economy encouraged more than 316,000 visitors to check out the vehicle displays.

With the 2016 show in the books, planning for the 44th edition of the Canadian International AutoShow in 2017 is already underway. Public dates for the 2017 auto show in Toronto is set for February 17th to 26th.

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