EAST MOLINE, Ill. — The Quad City Regional Auto Show is celebrating 30 years, with the most vehicles ever on display.
22 brands and almost 200 cars are at the Bend XPO center, and while you can't buy a new vehicle at the 3-day show, it is a chance to see what's on the market.
"Sometimes people don't really always want to go to all the dealerships — well they get to do it here," event coordinator Susan Shrader said.
Dealers will be on the show floor to answer questions, and many of the cars will be powered, allowing visitors to see how the systems function.
"People like the fact they can just come and sit in most of these vehicles, they can sit in the back seat, they can check out what the trunks look like," Shrader added.
Experts say the market could be cooling down in 2024, thanks to stronger inventory across the nation. According to automotive technology firm Cox Automotive, at the end of January 2024, American dealers had 2.61 million new cars, trucks and SUVs on their lots. By contrast, the supply in 2023 was just 1.74 million.
"You know a year ago, there wasn't enough inventory and everyone was looking for cars," Tom Pospisil said, who owns Eriksen Chevrolet in Milan. "Now inventory is starting to catch up."
Pospisil explained that there's a bigger focus on more affordable cars in popular styles. "SUV sales, especially in compact and mid-size, that's up 43% — it's just on fire right now," he said.
"The manufacturers are putting some good rebates and incentives up there, and we're seeing a lot of inventory start to move," KV Dahl III from Dahl Ford in Davenport said.
His suggestion for attendees: take your time and look around. "You can sit in them, you can touch them and smell them — and we've even got a couple ride-and-drives going on. So that's a great place to narrow down what your wants and needs are," Dahl said.
The Quad City Regional Auto Show will be at the Bend XPO, 922 Mississippi Parkway, East Moline, IL.
The times are:
- Friday Mar. 1: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday Mar. 2: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sunday Mar. 3: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets cost $9 for adults (13 and over), $5 for senior citizens (62 and over), and $5 for kids (7 to 12). Tickets can be purchased here.