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San Jose Auto Show Official Cites Strong Economy for Record Attendance

13 January 1999

San Jose Auto Show Official Cites Strong Economy for Record Attendance

    SAN JOSE, Calif.--Jan. 12, 1999--Officials of the San Jose International Auto Show have cited a strong economy as the primary reason for the rapid growth of the five-year-old exhibition of new vehicles and concept cars which concluded Jan. 10 with a new attendance record of 174,822.
    Held at the San Jose Convention Center in the heart of the Silicon Valley and Santa Clara County, one of the nation's most active new car sales markets, the five-day San Jose show featured the North American debuts of the Year 2000 Jaguar S-Type, Chevrolet Tracker and Volkswagen Golf.
    "The growth of the show is indicative of the buying strength of this market," said Auto Show co-Chairman Mark Normandin, general manager of Normandin Chrysler/Plymouth/Jeep.
    "Automotive manufacturers have recognized the value our market holds in the industry and the public response of this show bodes well for our projected growth. It was obvious this year that people came to the show because they are in the new car market. This held true last year when we drew 147,000 people."
    Attendance at the Auto Show jumped from 106,000 in 1997 to 147,575 in '98 when Volkswagen debuted its New Beetle. The two-year attendance increase of 64% is the largest such growth in the auto show industry, according to the San Jose show producer, Auto Dealer Shows, Inc. of Playa Del Rey, Calif.
    The Year 2000 San Jose International Auto Show is scheduled for Jan. 5-9, 2000 at the San Jose Convention Center.