CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An estimated 4,000 hours of prep work from more than 100 people will culminate with the opening, later this week, of the West Virginia International Auto Show at the Charleston Civic Center.
The doors open to the public on Friday.
On Wednesday, a crane was being used to move some of the more than 250 new vehicles from upwards of two dozen manufacturers into exhibit space that was said to be equivalent to the size of three football fields, according to organizers.
The cars, crossovers, SUVs and trucks that make up the West Virginia International Auto Show, though, are not being sold.
“It gives the buying public the opportunity to come in and see all of the latest and newest vehicles in a non-selling environment and I think that’s very important,” said Ruth Lemmon, president of the West Virginia Automobile and Truck Dealers Association.
New 2016 models that will be part of the show include the Honda Civic sedan, Buick Cascada, Chevrolet Camaro, Subaru WRX and Volvo XC90 along with the latest high-end options from Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Lexus and Lincoln.
Alternative fuel choices like the hybrid-electric Chevrolet Volt, the plug-in electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the plug-in hybrid Ford CMAX Energi will also be on display.
Despite those options, Lemmon said large vehicles remain popular among West Virginians.
“We’re seeing that the folks still like the trucks and the bigger SUVs because it becomes a utility to their lifestyle and, with the low gas prices, it’s been very, very helpful,” she said.
It takes nearly a week to set up the West Virginia International Auto Show and less than 36 hours to dismantle the entire show.
In all, 15 miles of carpet tape, 1,500 square feet of signs, 5,500 feet of extension cords and 200 electrical outlets providing enough electricity for nearly 150 homes are used.
Hours for the West Virginia International Auto Show at the Charleston Civic Center are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.