WASHINGTON (7News) — It is a popular tradition each year. The Washington, D.C. Auto Show has seen strong attendance this week, and it arrived in Washington amid major industry changes and a lot of uncertainty.
One of the largest public events in D.C. returned to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center where once a year, car enthusiasts have the chance to experience one of the nation’s top auto shows.
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Show organizers said it offers brand new experiences and activations for all ages, including a firetruck video game truck, seven giant bounce houses, an adoption event, and educational opportunities that will be sure to ‘entice any car enthusiast,’ according to the show’s website.
As the legislative hub for automotive policy, with the Capitol just blocks away, policymakers, manufacturers, and industry stakeholders have heavily discussed topics such as electric vehicle infrastructure expansion, evolving sustainability regulations, and growing consumer costs.
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Buyers are truly experiencing sticker shock right now, with Americans paying more than $47,000 on average for a new car — $10,000 more than in 2019.
The industry has seen major changes in the past five years, including exorbitant car prices which are rising much faster than most goods and services. Car prices have been on a steady increase since the pandemic when supply chains were drastically affected and limited essential car parts.
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Now, China has retaliated against President Donald Trump’s auto tariffs with a 10% duty on U.S. vehicles, which could spike the average price of a new car to over $50,000.
The show this year features some of the most anticipated vehicles, many of which are once again advanced, fully-electric models. But with a recent executive order issued by the Trump administration looking to eliminate programs to subsidize purchases of electric vehicles, should consumers hold off on buying them right now?
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Those are some of the questions being raised at the car show this week. The halls inside the Convention Center have become a maze of concept vehicles and classic cars.
Some of the most anticipated vehicles of the year, including the Buick Wildcat EV Concept, a sleek vision of the brand’s future, the Aston Martin Vanquish, a high-performance luxury model showcasing the latest in automotive engineering, and the Volvo EX90, an advanced, fully-electric SUV equipped with keycard entry technology.
Adding to the excitement, the show’s Art-of-Motion exhibit once again blended automotive design with visual artistry, as real-time painters began to transform vehicles from leading manufacturers into one-of-a-kind works of art.
The event has brought attendees the future of mobility, but perhaps carrying more baggage than usual with an array of questions from consumers on what’s next.
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