Washington Auto Show Logo Mark The Washington Auto Show (WAS) an annual local auto show held in Washington, D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center usually in late January.
It is among the largest auto shows in North America, trailing only the North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS), the LA Auto Show, the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) and the Chicago Auto Show in size. It sometimes also referred to as the D.C. Auto Show. The event has evolved to emphasize and showcase the latest innovations in sustainable automotive technologies. Since 2008 the winners of the Green Car Vision Award announced during the show. The show features a full slate of entertainment, contests, interactive displays, exhibits on futuristic technology and family activities that can actually offer visitors a break from all those cars and at the same time. This Auto Show has firmly earned its title as one of the industry’s most prominent and pivotal events.
History
In 1921, a group of 20 Washington-area car dealers and distributors planned the first show to sell the public on the virtue of the horseless carriage. From that humble beginning, The Washington Auto Show has been on the fast track for growth and popularity. Housed in a variety of area venues, the show staged for 18 years in the National Guard D.C. Armory. The show has gone on hiatus twice once for war and once due to poor economic conditions. After a break in the 1970s, the Washington Convention Center and The Washington Auto Show opened together in early 1983. By this date, the auto show had grown to require every available foot of display space, covering nearly eight acres. Almost four times the physical size of the Armory shows, with three times as many models.
In 1988, The Washington Auto Show began using the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day as its annual time frame, garnering a tremendous base of loyal fans and establishing its reputation as a family destination. The event later moved to late January to coincide with Congress’ return from recess, enabling the show to capitalize on the business of Washington. The show’s early planners, who sought every imaginative twist to draw attention to that newfangled mode of transportation, would be amazed to witness today’s incarnation.
About Washington Auto Show
The Washington Auto Show, the largest public show in DC with 700 cars and two floors of the Washington Convention Center, is also the most entertaining. See live music, specialty brews, art, contests, celebrities, the hottest autos, ride ‘n drives, exotic autos, concepts with the latest connectivity and technology. This year’s Washington Auto Show runs for eleven days. That gives you plenty of time to swing by and check out the fully stocked, two story convention center. There will be over 700 new makes and models on display from over 42 manufacturers.
Some other highlights of this year’s show include. “The Price is Right” with a grand prize of a new car and cash to take a trip to LA. Look forward to celebrity appearances by the National’s Bryce Harper and Jason Werth, among others. With hundreds of thousands of visitors expected, be sure to get your tickets and parking passes in advance. The Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA) sponsors the auto show each year to entice. Educate and entertain hundreds of thousands of consumers.
The latest innovations in safety and sustainability will take center stage at the 2018 Washington Auto Show. The Intelligent Transportation SuperHighway will feature an exhibit on self-driving cars. Camp Jeep returns to offer rides along an indoor obstacle course with steep climbs and thrills. This is a great way to learn about more developments in hydrogen, clean diesel, electric, biofuel. And natural gas technologies as well as in safety. Visitors will also find free car giveaways, special guests, promotional contests, children’s activities and live entertainment.
Related Links:
