The 2024 edition of the Montreal International Auto Show (MIAS) came back in style — and in full force.
Some manufacturers who had skipped the show last year were back, and three floors of Palais des Congrès were jammed with attendees coming
to check out the latest offerings. Special exhibits like the famous collection of 31 Ferraris from the years 1967 to 2023 by Luc Poirier, also helped
draw crowds and generate excitement.
This year’s show was held from January 19-28, 2024 and OEMs like Ford, Lincoln, Genesis, Infiniti, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and McLaren were back, which signals a return to normal in the auto industry.
The 79th edition began with media day, held the day before the official opening.
Satisfying first weekend
More than 66,000 visitors passed through the doors during the opening weekend, which is the largest turnout since the 2019 edition. “As soon as the doors opened at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, we felt the excitement, and visitors continued to flock throughout the weekend. The comments were positive, and several mentioned being happy to find a major show,” said Luis Pereira, MIAS Senior Director.
Denis Dessureault, the show’s Senior Vice-President said: “Despite the absence of a few manufacturers, the diversified offering at the Show ensured that visitors got value for their money,” he said.
Not surprisingly, Quebec attendees were keenly interested in the latest electric vehicle offerings. In the last quarter of 2023, one in eight registrations in Canada is a battery electric vehicle (BEV) or plug-in hybrid and the numbers are higher for Quebec.
The 20th Charity Gala Preview event was another big success raising $572,800 for five Montreal area hospital foundations. Nearly 4,000 people attended the gala where they enjoyed food stations, cocktails, DJs and auctions that helped raise money for the foundations.
