While auto shows may have lost some of their lustre — the venerable Detroit show went off like a wet firecracker last month — the Canadian International AutoShow is bucking the trend and doing just fine.
The CIAS exceeded expectations when it drew a record crowd of 371,500 attendees to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre last year.
And the event’s general manager, Jason Campbell, is hoping for lightning to strike twice and is leaving nothing to chance this year.
“It’s a world-class show with bigger displays and a new layout that includes both indoor and outdoor test tracks with 50 vehicles available to drive,” Campbell said.
With the pandemic-era supply chain disruptions largely resolved, manufacturers are “all fighting for sales again,” Campbell noted, as consumers contemplate replacing their aging cars and trucks.
Bubbling Canadian new-vehicle sales numbers bear that out. According to industry analysts DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, Canada saw new vehicle sales reach 1.86 million units in 2024, up 8.2 per cent from 2023, and within striking distance of the record 2.04 million sales in 2017.
Even frigid January 2025 started brightly with an estimated 118,000 vehicles sold — matching the highest January total ever. And that’s with the federal government’s electric-vehicle incentive program ending ahead of schedule due to high demand. This will likely dent EV sales in subsequent months.
Around the globe, auto show crowds were dwindling even before the COVID-19 pandemic as automakers shifted to holding virtual events to debut their new models. Online reveals are less costly and they don’t have to compete for media attention with other makers at the same show.
Campbell is careful to emphasize that Toronto’s is a consumer-oriented show that caters to car and truck shoppers, rather than hosting worldwide industry reveals. The model unveilings that do take place tend to be Canadian-market debuts.
Campbell is delighted to see the vast majority of automakers back in Toronto.
“There are more auto manufacturers here than at the New York City and Los Angeles shows,” he noted. It’s no accident. There’s a lot of wealth in the GTA, which makes it an ideal locale to show off your wares — especially models that can cost a quarter-million dollars or more.
“We are excited to welcome back fan favourite Mercedes-Benz to the show after five years,” he said, punctuated by the Canadian premiere of the G 580 with EQ Technology, the first fully electric version of the iconic Geländewagen.
“The big three German luxury brands — Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz — are back, along with 40 other automotive makes to fill the floorspace to capacity this year,” he said.
BMW is taking over the 600 level of the convention centre’s south building to feature every facet of its products, including internal-combustion models, electric vehicles, M performance models and its revered motorcycles. BMW’s distinct Mini models are displayed on the 700 level.
A few manufacturers, including Honda, Volkswagen, Mazda and Mitsubishi, are still sitting out the show.
At many regional auto shows, local dealers often band together to bring models and staff to the show to ensure their brands are represented when the corporate head office declines to take part. That’s what happened with Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) at the CIAS last year.
This year, the manufacturer is back. “Stellantis has stepped up … with a renewed presence, including models from Alfa Romeo and Maserati,” Campbell said. Other brands in its constellation include Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep and Ram Truck. Dodge will be displaying the made-in-Ontario Charger Daytona, its first all-electric vehicle and the world’s most powerful muscle car.
General Motors is displaying all four of its brands — Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC — for maximum exposure. Chevrolet will feature the high-performance Corvette ZR1 with its 5.5-litre, twin-turbocharged, flat-plane crank V8, which generates 1,064 horsepower, while Cadillac will be showing its Celestiq EV and Sollei concept car, along with the all-electric Optiq and Vistiq.
The event is building on its post-pandemic success. It endured a two-year hiatus during the outbreak. For 2023, the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association retooled Canada’s largest auto show, with a strong mix of concept cars, classic and muscle cars, exotics and motorsport racers, as well as “consumer experiences,” such as the indoor test track that enables attendees to test drive electric vehicles.
The show has become more family-focused with auto-related displays by toymakers Lego and Mattel. These have become very popular with visitors, young and old. Mattel is marking the 50th anniversary of the legendary Bigfoot — that’s the modified Ford F-150 that sparked the monster truck phenomenon — at the Hot Wheels booth.
The success of the Toronto show has earned the attention of the organizers of the New York City auto show, who will be attending on media day to get a first-hand look at the CIAS and gain some insights.
“The entire industry is gathering at our show,” said Campbell. That’s in addition to hundreds of thousands of Ontario cars-shoppers and a good number from western New York state.
The 2025 Canadian International AutoShow builds on last year’s event with more featured exhibitors and visitor experiences:
EV Test Track The indoor EV test track offers attendees first-hand experience driving electric vehicles and there’s the option of an outdoor EV test drive
Camp Jeep Fan favourite is back with a Trail-Rated indoor obstacle course where professional 4-by-4 drivers take passengers to experience what Jeeps can do
Cobble Beach Classics Presented in partnership with Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance, this tribute to the legacy of Mercedes-Benz assembles some of its most iconic and rare models, spanning more than a century
Auto Exotica As Toronto is one of the largest markets for “super premium” autos, there’s a selection of luxury, exotic and hyper cars featuring some of the most expensive models from around the globe
Lego The Danish toymaker is showing off its life-size McLaren P1 sports car made of 340,000 Lego bricks; it’s the first-ever Lego Technic creation capable of driving a full lap on a racetrack
Mattel In addition to Bigfoot, the toymaker will showcase two vehicles from the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends: the Star Wars X-Wing Fighter Carship and 2005 Ford SEMA Mustang GT.
Car of the Year Awards Annual awards for the top-rated new vehicles in Canada, based on voting by auto journalists is hosted by the Automotive Journalist Association of Canada (AJAC).
The 2025 Canadian International AutoShow will take place Feb. 14 to 23 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front St. West. Adult admission $30; family pass $63. Details and discounts are available at autoshow.ca
