Pub. 3 Issue 3

10 www.glancda.org Overview of 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show This year’s Los Angeles Auto Show (LA Auto Show) captured the attention of the world’s automotive, technology and news leaders more than any other year. The news made at the show was focused on more than the 55 vehicles that debuted. This year, breaking news also came from the automotive technology companies as the two industries continue to collaborate, converge and redefine the industry as we rapidly move into a new era of transportation. The LA Auto Show Press & Trade Days, combined with the Connected Car Expo, are quickly becoming the de facto trade show for the new auto industry. More than 20,000 automotive and technology industry executives from 60 countries attended Press & Trade Days to witness the unveilings and conduct business in what is hailed as the car culture capital of the world. This year, the show literally sold out all the hotels in Downtown Los Angeles with press and trade attendance up 14% over 2014. News coverage of the show increased by 19% over last year and the displays were some of the most elaborate in the show’s history. According to the show’s contractor/decorator, Global Experience Specialists (GES), this year’s show was the largest event GES has rigged in the facility. In fact, GES said that it assembled the largest collective group of riggers to do a single event in the United States. Automakers debuted key models at this year’s LA Auto Show, including production and concept vehicles representing the ever-growing luxury, performance, low and zero emission categories. They ranged from f lagship SUVs and ultra-luxury sedans to new compact entries and zero-emission production and prototypes. Updated versions of big sellers like the Ford Escape, Nissan Sentra and Hyundai Elantra debuted, as well as new luxury vehicles like the Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan, the Cadillac XT5 SUV and the Land Rover Evoque Convertible. Buick also unveiled a completely redesigned LaCrosse, Porsche revealed the Cayman GT4 Clubsport race car and the 911 Targa and Fiat debuted the all-new 124 Spider. Other vehicle debuts included Infiniti’s QX30 crossover, Kia’s next-generation Sportage and Jaguar’s first performance SUV, the F-PACE. Some hints of the future were also unveiled with concept cars from Audi, Scion, Subaru, Volvo, Volkswagen and a three-wheeler from startup Elio Motors. The show’s strong public attendance ref lects the fact that California remains the biggest car selling state in the nation and expected to achieve its highest sales level in a decade. 