Auto shows are back in a new avatar! - highlights from CIAS Toronto
After a 3-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most major auto shows have returned this year. While India saw the revival of Delhi Auto Expo in January 2023, North America is seeing the resumption of the Chicago, Toronto, and New York auto shows. However, the ongoing supply chain issues due to the chip shortage have pushed major automobile manufacturers (Audi, BMW, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen) to sit out of certain auto shows. I was at the 2023 Canadian International Auto Show (or CIAS) in Toronto last week, and while it was clearly a shadow of its past (despite celebrating its 50th iteration), the event still saw record-breaking crowds on opening weekend. This clearly shows that the demand for personal mobility, or rather the interest in it, still remains strong! The theme for this year's CIAS was "Mobility Reimagined" , with a special focus on electric vehicles. The event saw participation from only 20 car manufacturers, with Hyundai-Kia-Genesis,