Auto show had more visitors than in ’17

The 40th annual three-day First Hawaiian International Auto Show attracted 1.3 percent more attendees than a year ago, according to data released Monday.

Motor Trend Auto Shows Inc., which produces the event, does not release actual attendance figures, but provides the percentage difference from the previous year.

Next year’s show will be held in late March.

Motor Trend Auto Shows, in combination with the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association, also has commissioned an independent research firm, Foresight Research, to process attendee data, attendee insights and other information about the show that concluded Sunday.

“This is the first time that this national survey company, which performs the research for the Detroit and New York and L.A. shows, is conducting a survey that is Hawaii show specific,” HADA Executive Director Dave Rolf said.

The Foresight research will be reported at the HADA convention Oct. 11-14 at the Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa on Kauai.

“One of the highlights of this year’s show was the Nissan Ride ’n’ Drive feature,” Rolf said. “I experienced the drive and the hands-off, feet-off experience of driving through downtown streets in traffic and up on the freeway using the new 2018 LEAF’s Level 1 and Level 2 autonomous driving features, which at this stage are in what’s called ‘driver-assist features’ and add to the safety features of the vehicle. Many new vehicles are starting to feature driver-assist functionality.”

Rolf said many of the cars at the show were “connected.”

“(They) had their electrical features (sliding moon roofs, seats, windows, computer display screens and other electrical features) all operating for showgoers to experience while seated in the vehicles,” he said.