The Canadian International AutoShow, which while primarily a platform for new cars has also provided a venue for aftermarket and motorsports displays, has been cancelled for 2022.

Scheduled for February 18-27, with the Government of Ontario re-instating capacity limits on indoor venues in an effort to stem a steep rise in case counts driven by the quick-spreading Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, the Canadian International AutoShow, in consultation and agreement with its manufacturer partners, has taken the decision to cancel its planned 2022 event.

Venues with a capacity of more than 1,000 have been limited to 50% capacity.

The announcement comes alongside news that the Montreal International Auto Show (MIAS) has decided to cancel its event at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, which was scheduled from January 21 to 30, 2022. This decision was made following the analysis of the latest effects of the rise of the Omicron variant and the uncertainties regarding the sanitary measures relating to the organization of indoor events for the next few weeks.

Vancouver Auto Show organizers also postponed its return to 2023. Scheduled for March 2022, organizers said “constraints on the industry and the realities of the continuing pandemic in Canada have forced us to make the disappointing decision to postpone the 2022 Show until 2023. Our top priority continues to be the safety of the public, our dealer members and their staff.”

“It is with great regret that we have to make this announcement, but the health and wellbeing of our community needs to be our first priority,” says Jason Campbell, General Manager of the Canadian International AutoShow. “What has been clear over the past few months in our discussions with our consumers and our manufacturer partners is how much they all value our in-person live AutoShow event experience, and how hungry they all were for it to return. 

“We had been working hard in recent months for the AutoShow to return in a big way, but in light of the recent developments, and in consultation and agreement with our manufacturer and sponsor partners, we have agreed that it’s best to set 2022 plans aside to best support the health and safety of our community. We want to thank all of our AutoShow partners, sponsors, exhibitors and consumers for their interest in coming back in 2022, but can assure them we’ll be back bigger than ever in 2023 for what will be our 50^th year.”

About the Canadian International AutoShow

With more than 650,000 square feet of exhibits, displays and attractions at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the Canadian International AutoShow is not only the largest automotive expo in Canada, it is also the country’s largest consumer show — a leader in lifestyle, technology and all things automotive. It boasts more than 1,000 cars, trucks, SUVs, concept cars, exotics, classics, muscle cars, fully electric and autonomous vehicles each year.

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