Auto shows are among the victims of the ongoing pandemic. Last year’s Geneva Motor Show and the 2021 Tokyo Motor Show were both canceled. And now, even the long-running New York International Auto Show will not be pushing through. The event had been traditionally held in April, but due to the health crisis, it was moved to a later date. Our EIC used to go there, the last time being in 2017.

The 2020 event was canceled as its venue (Jacob K. Javits Convention Center) was turned into a makeshift hospital for COVID patients. Organizers said that while they were focused on making this year’s show a safe one for exhibitors and visitors alike, plans were brought to a grinding halt due to the growing number of Delta variant infections in New York.

The 2021 New York International Auto Show would have been the debut event of two highly anticipated cars: the all-new Nissan Z and Subaru WRX. But now, expect these vehicles to be unveiled virtually just like how most automakers have done things during the health crisis.

The NYIAS organizing committee is optimistic for the event’s return in 2022. We can only hope that this pandemic gets under control soon so that we’ll be able to physically attend car shows again.