Auto Show Comes to Palm Beach County Convention Center

PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 20, 2006 -- It's a first for Palm Beach County residents. They no longer need to venture elsewhere to see the newest and hottest cars, trucks or auto accessories all under one roof.

The Auto Show of the Palm Beaches presented by Northwood University will make its debut December 7-10, 2006 in the Palm Beach County Convention Center. The industry's top auto manufacturers will display their newest products throughout more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space.

The new show will be produced by the South Florida Auto-Truck Dealers Association, the same group that produces the South Florida International Auto Show held in Miami Beach each fall. That 10-day show, now in its 36th year, is considered among the nation's premier auto shows with an annual attendance surpassing 650,000.

"We're thrilled to be presenting the Palm Beach show," said Rick Baker, executive vice president of the South Florida Auto-Truck Dealers Association. "Our dealer members have been waiting anxiously for the convention center to be completed so we could bring a first-class auto show to the Palm Beach area. And our relationship with Northwood University and their students who are studying automotive management will only make the show better."

"As an educational community service, Northwood University students have produced a Palm Beach County new car show for the past 18 years. The show has created a loyal following, and now we're thrilled to be in partnership with the South Florida Auto/Truck Dealers Association to host the show for the first time in this exciting new venue," said Northwood Provost John Haynie.

The South Florida Auto-Truck Dealers Association comprises more than 220 car dealers in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties and is larger than some state auto dealer groups. The Association was originally formed in 1933 to share marketing opportunities and control costs. It operates a tag agency for the convenience of customers and it coordinates charitable giving in the four-county regions.

Northwood University is a private institution specializing in business, management and entrepreneurship. Northwood emphasizes the importance of free enterprise, creativity and the arts, global business, and ethics. With residential campuses in Midland, Michigan; Cedar Hill, Texas; and West Palm Beach, Florida, the university offers associate and bachelor degree programs in advertising; accounting; automotive marketing; aftermarket management; business management; computer information systems; entertainment, sport & promotion management; banking & finance and more.

In addition to producing the South Florida International Auto Show, the dealers association manages the Fort Lauderdale International Auto Show. For more information on the Auto Show of the Palm Beaches presented by Northwood University, call Show Coordinator Cliff Ray at 305-947-5950.

The Palm Beach Convention Center is located at 650 Okeechobee Boulevard in West Palm Beach.