The 2024 Model Year Central Florida International Auto Show was a sight to see. As in years past, many favorite brands dazzled the floor. The show brought old fashion nostalgia, new tech anticipation and positive energy around automotive speed. The squeal of the tires echoed throughout the day as almost a dozen brands hosted an electric vehicle ride-along inside. Outside, customers enjoyed being in the driver’s seat, test driving their favorite brands.
The show allowed families and friends to see the latest technology in cars. The beauty of the auto show is that it is a show for sharing. Families and friends come to sit in the vehicles, open the gates, pop the hood and measure the legroom. The real test is not how well a car drives but how well the car drives for you, for your loved ones and for those most important in your life. There is not another place where that can happen in a family-friendly, friend-friendly, no-sales environment. Memories are made even when the cars are not moving.
There were a couple of new additions to the show. First was the Auto Tech Competition. Eighteen students from around Central Florida competed for the title of Top Tech, scholarships and awards. The three winners: first, second and third place, took home $10,000 in cash alone. These students were 17 and 19 years old. Their skill and talent for automotive technology were impressive.
The other inaugural event this year was the Ladies Brunch. Professional women from Central Florida enjoyed brunch, drinks, car history, Florida history and each other’s company as they shopped at a local nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence.
The Auto Show is not a place to shop for cars but a place to be with those you love as you dream and learn about the cars coming to our region. As we prepare to go to the places that matter to us, our cars are not only a means of transportation but our personal assistants. They not only keep us moving and keep us safe, but they keep us in our lane, make sure we get places on time, tell us where we are supposed to be going and how to get there. They read our texts, make our calls and remind us of the important things.
For over 40 years, the Central Florida International Auto Show has been the place to find the vehicles that make your life possible. We are happy to produce an event that means so much to our community. Now, we plan in anticipation of next November when we get to build these memories again.
