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SANDY — Self-driven cars or trucks won't be found at the Utah International Auto Expo in Sandy this weekend, but that doesn't take away from what can be seen and driven at the show, which began Friday.
People were lined up at the door when the show opened, and they've streamed in all day. The auto expo is one of 63 going on this month around the nation, and Utah's is the largest in the region.
"You don't think that the cars can get any better, but they do," said K.O. Murdock, general manager of Murdock Automotive Group. "And you think they can't get any more exciting and they do."
Plenty of optimism exists in the automobile industry these days, and the auto shows across the country are seeing big crowds.
Many of the attendees will soon be buying a new car or truck, which is a big deal for the Utah economy.
According to the latest figures, Utah had 143 new vehicle dealerships, each producing an average of $41.6 million in sales.
Combined, the dealership sales totaled $6 billion. In terms of total retail sales in the state, Utah's auto industry contributes an impressive 14 percent.
Utah's dealerships employ more than 8,000 people.
"So that means to the cities, counties in the state of Utah, this industry is very important to our economy," said Craig Bickmore, executive director of New Car Dealers of Utah. "Because as goes the car business, really goes everything else."
At the 2014 Utah Expo there are 300 new vehicles to see, climb into and even take for a test drive. This has been a popular exhibit at the show, so it has expanded this year, with an additional 50 vehicles available to test drive.
This year we are going to launch in North America 16 brand new vehicles, just in North America. There are going to be 23 worldwide.
–Conn Famuliner, Ford zone manager
Ford has this set up a simulated drive for driver's with where you zip down a race track in Germany, complete with sound and hydraulic movements.
January is the traditional kick-off to the automobile season, and manufacturers are ready to deliver plenty of new products.
"This year we are going to launch in North America 16 brand new vehicles, just in North America," said Conn Famuliner, a zone manager for Ford. "There are going to be 23 worldwide."
The launch is the biggest in Ford's 100-year history. Other manufacturers are also releasing new products. That's telling, in that it shows the industry remains solid.
"So we had a fantastic year in '13, and we think '14 is predicted to be even better," Murdock said.
Auto industry analysts are already predicting vehicle sales, here in Utah and nationwide, aren't expected to ‘stall' anytime soon.
