Pub. 1 2019-20 Issue 2

http://wvcar.com 26 WVADA 32.6% 37.0% 30.4% 32.1% 36.9% 31.0% Dealers Agree on Value of Auto Shows BUILD CUSTOMER AWARENESS 38.9% 38.1% 23.1% No Impact DRIVE CUSTOMERS TO DEALERSHIPS INCREASE RETAIL SALES AT DEALERSHIPS DEALERS SAY THERE ARE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR OEMS THAT LEAVE LOCAL AUTO SHOWS Leaving auto shows hurts customers awareness… …and drives down customer traffic, and… ...depresses retail sales. 8.5 Rating of the importance of local auto shows (out of 10) 8.0 Rating of the importance of local auto shows (out of 10) 7.9 Rating of the importance of local auto shows (out of 10) Significantly Hurts Customer Awareness Somewhat Hurts Customer Awareness No Impact Significantly Drives Down Customer Traffic Somewhat Drives Down Customer Traffic No Impact Significantly Depresses Retail Sales Somewhat Depresses Retail Sales • Parkersburg Brewing Co. (Parkersburg, West Virginia) Will Johnson and Arthur Moats, former NFL players from the Pittsburg Steel- ers, were also there during Friday Night Flights and Lights. In addition to his time spent with the NFL, Will Johnson is a former Mountaineer football player for West Virginia University and is currently the director at WVU for player and NFL relations. Those who were interested could get autographs and pictures. Starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, the colise- um side of the show had a Jeep overhaul event in the Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram area called The Garage. Wyrick said this involved taking a stock Jeep Wrangler and transforming it into an off-road ma- chine. After lifting it and taking off the tires, mechanics put on a lift kit, wrapped it and tinted the windows. Sunday was Family Day. Children 12 and under were free when accompanied by a paying adult. Throughout the show, next to Suba- ru’s exhibits, Subaru sponsored a pet adoption event. Dogs were available for adoption from local rescue organiza- tions, and those attending the Auto Expo could spend time playing with the dogs and could also get free custom pet tags. Chris Miller, the chairman of the West Virginia Automobile Dealers Association and the president of Dutch Miller Auto- motive, said the annual show is about more than just helping dealerships sell cars, although it certainly does help with that. It is also a good way to build the community. He says it is a way to bring a big-city feel to a mid or small-size community. As he puts it, the U.S. has a long-term love for cars, and being able to interact with local dealers in a great setting such as the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center is a fun way to ex- plore all the new technology while also getting to know the dealership people who sell what’s being shown. t The U.S. has a long-term love for cars, and being able to interact with local dealers in a great setting such as the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center is a fun way to explore all the new technology while also getting to know the dealership people who sell what’s being shown.