The first event on Canada’s auto show calendar originated in 1906 as the Canada Automobile and Motor Exhibition. It was discontinued during World War II and briefly revived in the mid-1950s just to be canceled again. The Montreal International Auto Show in its current form was inaugurated in 1969.
Today’s Montreal International Auto Show (MIAS) is a ten-day event held in mid-to-late January at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. It is produced by the Montreal Automobile Dealers Corporation. The show features over 600 vehicles presented by leading car manufacturers from the United States (including its Canadian-owned subsidiaries), the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, Germany, South Korea, and Japan. It attracts over 200,000 visitors every year.
Unlike many other auto shows, the MIAS doesn’t have industry days. The show is open to the general public during its entire run. The program of the Montreal Auto Show includes car debuts (both production cars and concept cars), test drives, performances, exhibitions showcasing old, exclusive and tunes car, a special entertainment zone for kids, and more.
Although the MIAS is held in January, it is not the first car event of the year in North America. It is typically preceded by the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) held in Detroit, United States. Sadly, some of the most exciting concept cars unveiled in Detroit aren’t showcased in Montreal. Nevertheless, Montreal gets its fair share of Canadian debuts.
