Electricity has galvanized the automotive industry over the past few years, so it is fitting that when organizers invited the press to preview the upcoming Lehigh Valley Auto Show, they featured eight of this year’s electric car models.

“It’s a preview of what people are going to see March 16 through the 20th,” said Tom Kwiatek, executive director of the Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Dealers Association.

That auto show is scheduled for March 16-20 at the Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Dealers Association show at Lehigh University’s Goodman Campus.

There will be new cars, trucks, crossovers, SUVs and motorcycles occupying 125,000 square feet in three different venues on the campus: Stabler Athletic and Convocation Center, Rauch Fieldhouse and Goodman Hall.

“This year marks our 23rd year,” said Vice President of Star Buick GMC Keith Muir, the chair of the 2022 auto show. “We’ve been trying to have the 23rd year for three years now. And we are glad to finally be back in person here at Stabler Center and on the Goodman Campus of Leigh University.

“In the past three years, we have seen some major changes and shifts in the automotive industry,” said Muir. “Probably the most visible, and it is the theme of this year’s show, is the increase in the electrification, hence our theme: “Leading the Charge – Find out what’s electrifying the auto industry.”

Muir said that though electric vehicles account for only a moderate fraction of new vehicle sales, demand for battery-electric vehicles doubled just in the first half of last year.

He credited General Motors CEO Mary Barra with saying, “This year could be the tipping point.” He said the electric vehicle (EV) market and number of new models is exploding. “Analysts anticipate the number long long-range EV models will quadruple this year.

“There has been a continuing and increasing shift from sedans to SUVs and pickup trucks,” said Muir. “You will see that at this year’s show.”

“When we went into pandemic lockdown, customers couldn’t go to dealers, so dealers went to them over the internet,” said Muir. “Even after the country opened back up, more and more customers shopped for their cars online.”

He said there has been an incredible shortage of manufacturing materials, such as semiconductor chips, and other raw materials like tires, interior plastics and seat foam. That and major shipping issues result in factory slowdowns and lack of inventory.

Muir said that at the end of 2021, a typical new vehicle cost $45,000, up about $8,000 from Dec. 2020.

Normally, said Kwiatek, the annual auto show has occupied 140,000 to 150,000 square feet. This year’s show will feature 225 cars. “It depends on what cars come in to dealers.”

When asked about the effect online dealers are having on traditional car-lot dealerships, Kwiatek said dealers have had online sales managers for years. “Customers can get a lot of information about the products before they actually see them.

“Most people, before they make a purchase decision, still want to touch it, see it, drive it. You can’t do that online. It is a tool that helps customers. You can build a car online. In other words, it comes with these colors, it comes with these features. You can have most of the information in hand before you actually go in to a dealer.”

When asked if dealerships are going the way of big box stores, Kwiatek said, “No. No, I don’t see dealerships going away. I think if you ask most people and most dealers, there’s a relationship there.”

He said salespeople build relationships with customers. “That’s the connection that you’re not going to get online.”

Tickets: www.glvada.org