The Orange County Auto Show in Anaheim earlier this month was a scaled down affair from years past. But, in a good sign for recovering auto dealers, attendance was up 4.5% from last year.
“We were overwhelmed by the crowds,” said John Sackrison, executive director of the Costa Mesa-based Orange County Automobile Dealers Association, which doesn’t disclose overall attendance.
The local dealer association, along with the Long Beach-based Southland Motor Car Dealers Association, puts on the show, which ran Oct. 15 to Oct. 18. Harrisburg, Pa.-based Motor Trends Auto Shows LLC produced the show.
A giant yellow Transformer was a hit at the show, drawing people to check out an adjacent Chevrolet Camaro Bumblebee Edition.
Attendees got a close-up look at a few concept vehicles, including the Lincoln C and the Hyundai Nuvis, both designed in Orange County.
Marketing efforts for the show paid off, according to Sackrison. Auto shows are one of the best ways to spur sales at dealers, he said.
“The auto show is very good. It definitely spurs sales,” said Mark Parkinson, owner of Tustin Nissan and Tustin Buick Pontiac GMC Hummer and head of the Tustin Auto Center’s dealer association.
—Sherri Cruz
