• by Tanya Gazdik , Staff Writer, November 18, 2024

Volkswagen is teasing the new Tiguan ahead of the reveal

It’s time for the quarterly conversation about the future of auto shows.  

Naysayers may say nay, but if this week’s Los Angeles Auto Show is any indication, there’s no need to administer last rites to the format just yet. 

Volkswagen of America, Inc. will reveal the 2025 Tiguan at 5 p.m. PT Wednesday.

The media day on Thursday features press conferences and new vehicle reveals from a handful of automakers. MediaPost is back with a full schedule of Q&As with top marketers from Nissan, Kia, Ford, Rivian, Stellantis and Hyundai.

Hyundai will present the Ioniq 9 flagship all-electric, three-row SUV to the world at 9:10 a.m. PT during a livestreamed news conference. Hyundai also will showcase its new Initium hydrogen fuel cell concept vehicle.

Kia America will unveil the enhanced 2026 Sportage; the EV9 GT and the refreshed all-electric EV6.

Toyota hosts a special Thursday Night Football event to show off its sponsorship as the “Official Automotive Partner of the NFL.”  The day wraps with a by-invitation Overland Overnight Influencer Experience. 

Once the show opens to the public, Nov. 22 through Dec. 1, attendees will be able to explore over 1 million square feet and discover hundreds of the latest gas, hybrid and EV models from Acura, Alfa Romeo, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Genesis, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Ineos, Jeep, Kia, Lucid, Nissan, Polestar, Porsche Downtown LA, RAM, Rivian, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, VinFast, Volkswagen and Volvo.

That’s a pretty exhaustive list of brands. 

The goal of the show is to bring together the leading minds in automotive, technology, design and policy, says Terri Toennies, president and chief operating officer of the LA Auto Show and AutoMobility LA.

“As the automotive ecosystem evolves at an ever faster pace, we are proud to provide a forum for professionals around the world to learn about industry innovation, engage in healthy debate, and ultimately collaborate to drive our industry forward,” Toennies says in a release. 

At the end of the day, multiple auto shows saw record attendance in 2023. 

“Toronto was one of them, with more than 350,000 people making their way to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre last February,” notes Motor 1. “It marked the third-largest showing in the auto show's 50-year history. Other American shows saw attendance increases as well; the DC show was up 107%, Miami was up 18%, and Los Angeles and Detroit both noted strong attendance figures for 2023, although they didn't release any official numbers.”

If the number of vehicle brands on display is any indication, the Los Angeles show organizers have nothing to worry about. 

Teaser image of Ioniq 9, the newest member of Hyundai’s all-electric Ioniq line