The Cleveland Auto Show is a no-pressure, consumer show and a favorite family tradition. Concept, pre-production and production vehicles from the world’s auto manufacturers are featured alongside local interest displays.

The first Cleveland Auto Show was held in February 1903 at Gray’s Armory in downtown Cleveland, featuring 15 Cleveland-made automobiles, in addition to several exhibits from other cities throughout the country.

With leading automakers of the time, like Winton, White, Jordan and Peerless — just to name a few — the City of Cleveland was regarded as one of the leaders early in the American automobile industry. In fact, Cleveland was considered the first Motor City until 1908, when Detroit became center stage for the industry.

The Ride-N-Drive experience was pioneered by the Cleveland Auto Show in the early 2000s, a concept that has since spread across the country in multiple variations and formats.

In 2024, the Cleveland Auto Show became a founding member of the Automotive Experience Alliance (AEA), an association focused on standardizing processes, messaging, and more to drive value for the automotive experience ecosystem — including OEMs, suppliers, dealers, and of course consumers.

Traditionally marking the start of the spring automotive selling season in Northern Ohio, the Cleveland Auto Show has long been considered one of the top auto shows in the nation, and is rated one of the strongest in terms of its impact on a regional market.