Northeast Ohio Auto Show & NOADA Dealer Event
The Northeast Ohio auto show and NOADA dealer event is the association’s marquee gathering of the year - a day built around the business of selling cars in the Akron area and a showcase that puts our members’ newest vehicles in front of the community. Hosted by the Northeast Ohio Automobile Dealers Association, serving local dealers since 1927, it brings together dealer principals, managers, endorsed partners, and the public for a keynote, a market outlook, hands-on programming, and plenty of face-to-face networking. This page covers what to expect, how to attend, and how to exhibit or sponsor.
Heads up: Dates, venue, and registration for the dealer event and auto show are announced each year. Contact NOADA at (330) 272-9011 or follow @NEODealers for the latest.
What the event is
In recent years NOADA’s signature event has paired two complementary experiences in one day:
- The Summit (morning): A business-focused breakfast program - a keynote speaker, a Northeast Ohio market outlook drawn from our AUTO KNOW report, and structured networking for dealer leadership and partners. The keynote and session topics are announced ahead of each event.
- The vehicle showcase / auto show: A display of the latest models from Northeast Ohio’s franchised dealers - the cars, trucks, and SUVs landing on local lots - giving the community a no-pressure way to see what’s new in one place.
Together they make the event valuable to two audiences at once: the dealer community gets market intelligence and connection, and local car shoppers get an easy, side-by-side look at new vehicles.
The format reflects what NOADA is: an association rooted in the working business of selling and servicing cars in Northeast Ohio. Where a big consumer auto show is built almost entirely around foot traffic, our event treats the dealers as the main audience and welcomes the public to the showcase - a balance that fits a regional association serving a tight-knit dealer community rather than a major metropolitan media market.
How it fits the Northeast Ohio show landscape
Greater Cleveland has its large, long-running Cleveland Auto Show at the I-X Center, produced by the Cleveland dealers’ association. NOADA’s event is distinct: it’s anchored in the Akron and Summit County market, smaller and more relationship-driven, and built as much around the business day (the Summit, the data, the networking) as the public showcase. If you’re an Akron-area dealer or a partner who wants real access to local decision-makers - not a booth in a crowd of hundreds - this is your show.
What’s new for car shoppers
For the public, the showcase is a low-pressure way to do your homework. Instead of driving from lot to lot, you can compare this year’s models side by side in one place - sit in the seats, check the cargo room, compare trims and technology, and talk with people who know the vehicles. With new-vehicle prices having climbed steadily since 2020 (a trend we track in AUTO KNOW), seeing the full range in one visit helps you make a smarter, more confident decision before you ever talk numbers. And because every vehicle on display comes from a NOADA member dealership, you know you’re looking at the inventory of franchised local stores that stand behind what they sell. When you’re ready to buy, our dealer directory points you to the member nearest you.
For attendees
Who should come
- Dealer principals, GMs, and managers who want the local market outlook, peer networking, and the keynote.
- Dealership staff invited by their store for the business program.
- Endorsed partners and vendors building relationships across the membership.
- Local car shoppers and families who want to see the newest models up close.
What you’ll get out of the day
- A Northeast Ohio market outlook you can’t get anywhere else, straight from AUTO KNOW.
- A keynote with takeaways you can use back at the store.
- Networking with the people who run the region’s dealerships - the relationships that make deals, hires, and partnerships happen.
- A first look at new-model vehicles from across the membership.
How to attend
Registration for the business program is handled online or by invitation each season; the public vehicle showcase is open to the community. Dates, venue, and registration are announced each year. Members receive invitations and early access by email - join NOADA so you don’t miss it. Contact NOADA at (330) 272-9011 or follow @NEODealers for the latest.
For exhibitors & sponsors
The event is one of the best ways for companies that serve dealerships to reach decision-makers in the Akron market. Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities typically include branded presence at the venue and on the agenda, branded items for attendees, and dedicated networking time with dealer attendees.
The available packages, inclusions, and submission deadline are confirmed for each season.
To exhibit or sponsor, request the current submission form from tim@neodealers.com or 330-272-9011, and return it by the listed deadline. Endorsed partners can also learn more on the partners page.
Plan your visit
Host: Northeast Ohio Automobile Dealers Association (NOADA) Association office: 688 Wolf Ledges Parkway, Akron, OH 44311 · 330-272-9011 Date, venue, and registration: Announced each year. Contact NOADA at (330) 272-9011 or follow @NEODealers for the latest.
Parking, directions, and day-of logistics are posted here once the venue is confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
When and where is the Northeast Ohio auto show / NOADA dealer event? The date and venue are announced each year. Contact NOADA at (330) 272-9011 or follow @NEODealers for the latest, or check our events calendar.
Is this the same as the Cleveland Auto Show? No. The Cleveland Auto Show is a separate, larger event produced by the Greater Cleveland dealers’ association at the I-X Center. NOADA’s event is focused on the Akron and Summit County market.
Can the public attend? Yes - the vehicle showcase portion is open to the community. The morning business “Summit” program is geared to dealers and partners. Public access details are announced ahead of each edition.
How much does it cost to attend? Pricing is set each season, with the best rates for NOADA members. Contact NOADA at (330) 272-9011 for current pricing.
How do I exhibit or sponsor? Request the current sponsor/exhibitor form from tim@neodealers.com. Packages typically include branded presence at the venue and on the agenda and dedicated networking time.
Who is the keynote speaker? A keynote is featured each year. The speaker is announced ahead of each event.
I’m a member - do I get a discount or invitation? Yes. Members receive invitations, early access, and the best pricing. Join NOADA to be on the list.
Related
- NOADA events calendar
- NOADA golf outing
- Dealer training & education
- AUTO KNOW market report
- Membership · Join NOADA
- Endorsed partners
Reserve your spot
Be part of Northeast Ohio’s dealer event of the year. Join NOADA for member access and pricing, or contact tim@neodealers.com to attend, exhibit, or sponsor.