Montreal and Toronto Auto Shows Go Virtual for 2021

Canada's two biggest auto shows are going digital. Toronto's Canadian International Auto Show and the Montreal International Auto Show will both be held as digital events in 2021, letting you check out new cars from the comfort of your own couch. Or from behind the wheel of your car if you're parked and have a good data plan.

We had already heard rumours of the Toronto show's evolution, and earlier today they confirmed it. Mass indoor gatherings, like the 330,000 annual visitors to that show, are currently banned due to COVID-19 precautions and that doesn't seem likely to change soon, especially not at this scale.

"With restrictions to public gatherings in Ontario limited for the foreseeable future, our annual automotive showcase that attracts more than 330,000 visitors on average each year simply couldn’t be considered at this time," said show General Manager Jason Campbell.

Toronto's plans for the show call for an online event that works with manufacturers, sponsors, and exhibitors to still let them tell their stories through the virtual show. The exact format of that hasn't yet been revealed, and current plans are for a traditional show in 2022.

It's a similar story at the offices of the Montreal show, where a fully digital event will be held January 15-24.

"It would have been easy to make the decision to just skip a year, but we wanted to keep this tradition going in January despite the absence of the in-person event. The Montreal Auto Show is an institution, which was founded more than 100 years ago. Our goal, above all, is to stay true to our mission, and to continue offering Quebecers, a platform that allows them to discover a complete offer of the automotive market, and assist them in their mobility choices, all presented in one place," said show president Francois Boisvert.

Montreal organizers plan a 3D virtual floor plan, letting at-home attendees search exhibitors, new models, manufacturer offers, and have a live chat with representatives. Access to the show will be free, and the show organizers will provide updates on how to attend.

There's word yet on the Vancouver International Auto Show, which was to have taken place this past March.