April 18, 2025

A 125 year old love of automobiles

The New York International Auto Show is celebrating its 125th anniversary!
From April 18-27 at the Javits Center, discover everything from the world’s first car unveilings to futuristic concept cars, supercars, and technology-packed exhibits.

The New York International Auto Show, which moved to its current location at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in 1987, is opening its doors to the world for the 125th time this year, bringing together manufacturers and consumers in an enclosed area of approximately 80,000 square meters. Car enthusiasts, don’t miss this historic event.

The world’s first automobile fair is held in Paris in 1898. At the beginning of the 19th century, while there were only 8 thousand automobiles on the roads in the United States, there were 25 thousand automobiles in the world. In 1900, 10 thousand people visited the first ‘Auto Show’ held in New York. Thus, the love affair between the automobile and the country began in the first years of the new century. The first show was held at Madison Square Garden and Grand Central Terminal. In 1956, the New York Coliseum, which was completed as an exhibition center, hosts an international fair for the first time. This date gives the ‘New York Auto Show’ an international character..

Seven electric vehicles, two gasoline-powered vehicles and a gasoline-powered tricycle make their debut at the first New York Auto Show held at Madison Square Garden. Exhibited at the 1901 New York Auto Show, the Oldsmobile, which resembles a handmade carriage cabin, soon becomes America’s best-selling automobile and breaks the record by selling 19,000 units by 1907. Oldsmobile’s first long journey is between Detroit and New York. This is recorded as the longest automobile journey on the American continent. In 1903, the New York Auto Show witnesses the birth of another brand and Cadillac exhibits the A Model for the first time at the fair. This is followed in 1906 by Ford’s Model N, the realization of Henry Ford’s dream, taking its place at the Auto Show as America’s second brand. The automobile is sold for 500 dollars at the fair, no one believes that Henry Ford made money from this automobile. Between 1914 and 1923, while the automobile industry was experiencing the recession of the world wars, manufacturers succeeded in producing projects to improve engine power and cabin aesthetics. From now on, more powerful vehicles with air and water-cooled copper radiators hit the roads. At the 1924 New York Auto Show, Chrysler, America’s third largest brand, comes to life. America’s first car to reach 70 miles per hour is introduced by Chrysler at the fair. In 1930, luxury and expensive vehicles make their mark at the New York Auto Show. The Cadillac V-16 model is exhibited as the most luxurious car of the fair.

In 1933, the great economic depression in America puts the automobile industry in a deadlock.

Cars cannot find buyers and luxury car production comes to a halt. While the New York Auto Show to be held that year was looking for a slogan to dispel the worries of the crisis, help came from Phil Wright, he created the Silver Arrow and a masterpiece emerged with the slogan ‘In 1933 we give you a 1940 model car’. The automobile industry continues to struggle for survival until the end of 1939.

Between 1929 and 1939, the New York Auto Show experiences its worst days.

The famous Chreysler’s Thunderbolt model becomes the symbol of the rebirth of concept and flashy cars at the 1940 show. And the American automobile industry begins to grow and develop rapidly. By 1956, the fair becomes international, and the world’s automobile manufacturers meet in New York every year to introduce their new products.