The Vancouver International Auto Show has always proved to be a hugely popular event; drawing thousands of people over the multiple days it takes place. This year for the 98th annual show, it turned out to be their most successful year on record, despite a shortened schedule that fell during a holiday long-weekend. This year’s event achieved the strongest attendance in its 98-year history with 120,500 total spectators over the five day event; almost 5,000 more than last year’s record-setting total of 115,600 that occurred over six days. Single day attendance approached 31,600 on the Friday of the show and more than 20,500 on Sunday; both single-day records! These numbers continue to solidify that the Vancouver International Auto Show is the best attended consumer show in Western Canada.

“The success of this event is a tribute to the automakers, collectors, volunteers but most of all the car enthusiasts who make their way the Auto Show each year to see what is vintage, what is new and what is next – and make this such a wonderful experience to be a part of,” said Blair Qualey, President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC, which owns and hosts the Auto Show. “And while this event has proven to be one of the most significant Auto Shows in memory, our attention and planning now turns to the 2019 event, which will be the prelude to our 100th anniversary celebration in 2020.”

“There was significant momentum associated with this event, and we are pleased to see that translate into a record level of attendance,” said Jason Heard, Executive Director of the Vancouver International Auto Show. “This event signals the strength of the auto sector in British Columbia and consumers in this region desire to research their automotive purchases in an auto show environment.”

While over 40 manufacturers send brand new model year vehicles to display at the event, we here at Mopar Connection get the most excited about the Dodge/FCA display. FCA and its multiple brands have one of the biggest displays at the event, with over 25 vehicles showcased. Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Fiat and Alfa-Romeo all had their latest and greatest vehicles on display for the public to look at, sit in and crawl all over (not literally though; security might not like that).

It’s a big year for FCA with the release of a whole bunch of newly re-designed vehicles such as the 2019 Ram 1500, 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL and 2019 Jeep Cherokee; along with the usual favorites such as the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, 2018 Dodge Challenger and Charger Hellcats and 2018 Dodge Durango SRT. This show was our first chance to see the new 2019 Ram 1500 in person and while we aren’t as big of a fan as we hoped to be, we really couldn’t complain about the high level of fit, finish and quality on both the exterior and interior. We are sure it will grow on us though like a lot of vehicles will when they are first released.

FCA brought it all out and showcased the best of what they had to offer. We were thoroughly impressed with the display and loved checking out the new model year products.

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