New York show still going ahead

Despite the last-minute implosion of the 2020 Geneva auto show due to the coronavirus epidemic, the president of the New York auto show says the fast-approaching April event is not only moving forward, but that it has added vehicle introductions and advance ticket sales for its public days are up.

"Our plan is to move forward with the show," said Mark Scheinberg, New York International Auto Show president. "Right now, our plan is to continue to hold the show as long as somebody doesn't say we can't do it."

The New York show is scheduled to run from April 10-19, with press days on April 8-9.

Despite some notable brand dropouts this year unrelated to the coronavirus — BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi said months ago they planned to skip the 2020 show — Scheinberg said there are 18 press conferences scheduled, up two from last year, and about 50 global and North American vehicle introductions.

"We have had no defectors on the exhibit side of it" related to the coronavirus, Scheinberg said. "We've increased the number of introductions, part of it because of Geneva, and others because product became available. The industry is still moving forward and we're still moving forward."

Notable expected debuts include the Ford Bronco Sport and Volkswagen ID4.

"Volkswagen announced to us that they are going to do their electric vehicle world introduction now in New York," he said.

As of last week, advance ticket sales for the show were up 17 percent, Scheinberg said.

The New York show's home, the Javits Center, is run by the state of New York, Scheinberg noted. Scheinberg and auto show organizers have been in close contact with the governor's office, as well as the city of New York, regarding the auto show, he said.

The Javits Center has increased the number of times it will disinfect restrooms, entranceways, doorknobs and anything else that visitors touch. The companies that detail vehicles on the show floor will be disinfecting them on a more regular basis, too, Scheinberg said.

Additionally, 70 new hand-sanitizing stations have been installed throughout the convention center.

Despite reported cases of the coronavirus in New York City, Scheinberg pointed out that no other events at the Javits Center have been canceled.

"The show that is just before us at the Javits Center, the Vision show, which has over 700 exhibitors, is still also putting on and their move-in is in about two weeks," Scheinberg said.

The New York show has two important dates coming up. On March 19, the lighting supplies arrive — about 3 million pounds worth — and on March 31, 11 million pounds of freight begins to move in, Scheinberg said.