List of 2012 U.S. auto shows
Fri, 06 Jan 2012
Looking to get inside a new car, without the pressure to buy? Stop by a local auto show. Read this list of auto shows to find one near you.
Auto shows give shoppers a chance to check out what's new and coming to showroom floors. We all know the heavy hitters—the North American International Auto Show and the Los Angeles auto show—but some regional shows give shoppers a better look at the cars, even offering test drives.
Here's a look at major and minor car shows in the United States for 2012.
Silicon Valley International Auto Show
Date: Jan. 5-8
Location: San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, Calif.
Notes: The show puts an emphasis on electric vehicles and offers ride-and-drives. More than 31 manufacturers participate in the show.
North American International Auto Show
Date: Jan. 9-22
Location: Cobo Center, Detroit
Notes: Home to the Detroit Three, the show has been in existence for more than a century. It's best known for its number of world debuts.
New England International Auto Show
Date: Jan. 12-16
Location: Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston
South Carolina International Auto Show
Date: Jan. 13-15
Location: TD Convention Center, Greenville, S.C.
Notes: The auto show is among those adding the 40+ MPG Club, which features vehicles with the capability of reaching 40 or more mpg on the highway. Manufacturers planning to have 40-plus-mpg models on display include Chevrolet, Ford, Honda and Toyota.
Utah International Auto Expo
Date: Jan. 13-16
Location: South Towne Exposition Center, Sandy, Utah
Notes: The Camp Jeep exhibit is an interactive Jeep test track that takes riders on a high-adventure course demonstrating the off-road capabilities of the vehicle.
Midlands International Auto Show
Date: Jan. 19-22
Location: CenturyLink Center Omaha, Omaha, Neb.
Notes: Several manufacturers will be at the show, and new this year is a display of storm-chaser mobiles.
Houston Auto Show
Date: Jan. 25-29
Location: Reliant Center, Houston
Notes: More than 37 manufacturers will be on display, and new this year is a high-end luxury vehicle section and double the number of ride-and-drives in the show parking lot.
Greater Toledo Auto Show
Date: Jan. 26-29
Location: SeaGate Convention Centre, Toledo, Ohio
Pennsylvania Auto Show
Date: Jan. 26-29
Location: Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, Harrisburg, Pa.
Notes: New this year, the auto show will showcase the 40+ MPG Club, featuring fuel-efficient vehicles capable of reaching 40 or more mpg on the highway. The show also has a display of more than 250 certified pre-owned cars, trucks and SUVs from local car dealerships.
Portland International Auto Show
Date: Jan. 26-29
Location: Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Ore.
Notes: The show's emphasis is on green cars and green living.
St. Louis Auto Show
Date: Jan. 26-29
Location: America's Center and Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis
Michigan International Auto Show
Date: Jan. 27-29
Location: DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, Mich.
West Virginia International Auto Show
Date: Jan. 27-Feb. 2
Location: Charleston Civic Center, Charleston, W. Va.
Washington Auto Show
Date: Jan. 27-Feb. 5
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.
Notes: The show presents the latest innovations in sustainable technologies and draws the influential leaders in the industry.
Philadelphia Auto Show
Date: Jan. 28-Feb. 5
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia
Northeast International Auto Show
Date: Feb. 2-5
Location: Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, R.I.
Buffalo Auto Show
Date: Feb. 8-12
Location: Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, Buffalo, N.Y.
Motor Trend International Auto Show
Date: Feb. 9-12
Location: Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore
North Carolina International Auto Expo
Date: Feb. 9-12
Location: North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, N.C.
Iowa-Illinois Regional Auto Show
Date: Feb. 10-12
Location: RiverCenter Convention Center, Davenport, Iowa
Spokane International Auto Show
Date: Feb. 10-12
Location: Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, Spokane, Wash.
Chicago Auto Show
Date: Feb. 8-19
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago.
Notes: This is the show where dealers lay out all that they have--expect nearly 1,000 vehicles on display this year. The show has been running for more than a century and includes a complete range of domestic and imported passenger vehicles.
Cincinnati Auto Expo
Date: Feb. 16-19
Location: Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati.
Pittsburgh International Auto Show
Date: Feb. 17-20
Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh
Jacksonville International Car & Truck Show
Date: Feb. 17-19
Location: Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, Jacksonville, Fla.
Cleveland Auto Show
Date: Feb. 25-March 4
Location: I-X Center, Cleveland
Notes: Attendees can register for a chance to win a 2012 Ford Explorer XLT.
Greater Milwaukee Auto Show
Date: Feb. 25-March 4
Location: Frontier Airlines Center, Milwaukee
Rochester International Auto Show
Date: March 1-4
Location: Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Rochester, N.Y.
Greater Kansas City International Auto Show
Date: March 7-11
Location: Bartle Hall Convention Center, Kansas City, Mo.
Fort Lauderdale International Auto Show
Date: March 8-11
Location: Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Twin Cities Auto Show
Date: March 10-18
Location: Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis
Atlanta International Auto Show
Date: March 14-18
Location: Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta
Notes: Annual showcase of more than 500 new import and domestic cars, light trucks, vans and sport-utility vehicles.
Columbus Auto Show
Date: March 15-18
Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio
Denver Auto Show
Date: March 21-25
Location: Colorado Convention Center, Denver
DFW Auto Show in Dallas
Date: March 21-25
Location: Dallas Convention Center, Dallas
Virginia Motor Trend International Auto Show
Date: March 23-25
Location: Greater Richmond Convention Center, Richmond, Va.
First Hawaiian International Auto Show
Date: March 30-April 1
Location: Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu
Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Show
Date: March 31-April 3
Location: Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pa.
New Orleans International Auto Show
Date: March 16-18.
Location: Morial Convention Center, New Orleans
New York International Auto Show
Date: April 6-15
Location: Javits Center, New York
Notes: One of the top auto shows in the country. It concludes the spring auto shows.
New Mexico International Auto Show
Date: April 13-15
Location: Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque, N.M.
Sacramento International Auto Show
Date: Oct. 19-21
Location: Cal Expo, Sacramento, Calif.
South Florida International Auto Show
Date: Nov. 9-18
Location: Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami
Connecticut International Auto Show
Date: Nov. 16-18
Location: Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, Conn.
Arizona International Auto Show
Date: Nov. 22-25
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix
Los Angeles Auto Show
Date: Nov. 28-Dec. 9
Location: Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles
Note: The Los Angeles auto show emphasizes “green” automobiles and wraps up the year in auto shows.
Did we miss one? E-mail auto-show information to afisher@autoweek.com.
By Angie Fisher