Syracuse dealers ready for AutoExpo as industry sales pick up

SYRACUSE –– Local auto dealers are preparing to show their wares at the 104th Annual Syracuse AutoExpo, in hopes of building on the momentum of rebounding vehicle sales.

The new car show will feature hundreds of cars and trucks spread out through two buildings and four floors totaling 135,000 square feet at the Oncenter and Convention Center in Syracuse.

The event, organized by the Syracuse Auto Dealers Association (SADA), kicks off tonight (Feb. 15), with the 14th Annual Charity Preview, which will raise funds for about 15 area nonprofit organizations. The auto show opens to the general public Thursday and runs through Sunday (Feb. 19).

Michael W. Spinelli, the show chair for this year’s AutoExpo, says organizers have set up a new Outdoor Lifestyles exhibit, which will feature motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, personal water crafts, scooters, and towable boats and campers.

But, the big drawing card of the show remains new cars and trucks.

“It will be all new vehicles,” he says. “A lot of new models will be in, and different manufacturers will have their new vehicles there.”

Spinelli says almost every manufacturer has new models coming out, and is presenting at the auto show.

“We’ve been able to set up rooms for everyone,” he says. “Some manufacturers have bigger displays than others, but there’s always been room for everyone who wants to participate …”

Spinelli, co-owner of the Heritage Lincoln dealership in Syracuse, says he sees increased sales activity at his business and for the industry as a whole.

“Last year was improving over the year before, and this year’s starting off pretty well,” he says. “Things are definitely getting better than it has been in the past few years.”

Jim Barr, chair of the Charity Preview and general manager and vice president at Crest Cadillac and Crest Acura in Syracuse, says the auto market continues to improve since the recession and looks bright for 2012.

“Certainly we have some massive growth from 2008 and 2009 — 2010 was a great year, and 2011 was a great year,” he says. “But I expect the economy to continue to expand, and demand for vehicles can continue to expand.”

National sales numbers back up Spinelli’s and Barr’s views of the improving market. The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) forecasts a third straight year of rising new vehicle sales. NADA projects 13.95 million new cars and light trucks to be sold in 2012, up from 12.7 million in 2011, 11.55 million in 2010, and 10.4 million in 2009.

Spinelli and Barr say the Syracuse auto market wasn’t as affected by the recession, as it didn’t experience the same boom and bust cycles that other fast-growing markets did.

“We have been very fortunate from the perspective that we never really had a big bubble,” says Barr.

Barr adds that the Syracuse market has fewer dealers than before the recession, reducing competition a bit.

He says he sees more people spending on new purchases as the average age of the vehicles on the road continues to rise.

NADA says it’s seeing pent-up demand in the auto market as well, with the number of one- to five-year-old used vehicles in short supply and selling at higher prices, according to a Feb. 4 news release from the 95-year-old auto trade group. NADA represents almost 16,000 new-car and truck dealerships, with 32,500 franchises.

Charity Preview

The Syracuse AutoExpo kicks off tonight with the Charity Preview, which will benefit 15 local charities. The event is a “black tie optional” gala event at the Oncenter that allows guests to enjoy food and drink while getting a sneak peak at the vehicles on display at this year’s new-car show. As of last Thursday, SADA was expecting to generate $200,000 in ticket sales for the Charity Preview.

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