The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) recently announced that its NADA Show 2021, originally set to take place in New Orleans, Louisiana in January, will now be held virtually from Feb. 9 through Feb. 11 next year.
The move comes after a number of automotive industry events have moved to virtual platforms — including the Los Angeles, Detroit, and New York auto shows in the U.S., and the Montreal and Toronto auto shows in Canada. The virtual NADA Show will offer more than 60 educational workshops and sessions, franchise meetings with OEM partners, and an online NADA Expo, among other things.
According to NADA Chairman Rhett Ricart, the late move to a virtual platform was due to their optimism that dealers should be able to gather in-person in New Orleans “for the most important NADA Show.”
“But the coronavirus has been persistent, a second wave is predicted to coincide with flu season, and, as things stand, public health controls remain too restrictive to allow the Show to go forward in-person,” said Ricart. “Recognizing these realities, we are transitioning to a virtual Show.”
The new format will include NADA Academy instructors, legislative and regulatory experts, and other industry professionals with a full program of education, best practices, and new tools to help dealers adapt to a changing business landscape, according to the NADA news release.
“While we are disappointed we cannot be together in New Orleans, we are excited about what a virtual Show will mean for dealers and the entire auto industry,” said NADA President and CEO Peter Welch. He is hopeful that the lack of travel costs associated with attending an in-person event will result in a greater number of dealership employees attending the virtual show.
NADA Show registration will open in the coming weeks, although dealers can browse nadashow.org for more information.
