GM president Charles "Engine Charlie" Wilson, chosen in 1953 to be secretary of defense for President Dwight Eisenhower, was famously misquoted as saying, "What's good for General Motors is good for the country."
In 2014, GM sold more than 2.9 million vehicles. It was good for the country.
And GM wasn't alone: Honda, Hyundai, Nissan and Subaru had record years, and Chrysler and Toyota posted big sales gains.
Against this backdrop, expect happy faces when the 58th New England International Auto Show gets underway today through Monday at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Manufacturers and franchised new vehicle dealers are obviously psyched; their annual party has a lot of promise.
Kelley Blue Book thinks sales could reach 17 million in the U.S. this year, closing in on the record 17.3 million vehicles sold in 2000. American consumers bought 16.5 million new vehicles last year, according to Autodata Corp., a 6-percent hike and a sign that the economy is picking up steam. It was the fifth consecutive year of improving sales.
Boston's auto show is an enthusiast's dream; 57 percent of show guests consider themselves "car fanatics." But almost a third are going to the show for more than just the fun of it — they're on a reconnaissance mission. Thirty percent of the show's annual attendees are thinking of making a vehicle purchase in the next three months.
It's a great time to buy. The more affordable cost of fuel, record-low interest rates and an improving economy have all kicked the buying climate into high gear.
The auto show gives prospective buyers a rare opportunity: They can scout choices from among 36 different manufacturers. Hundreds of cars and trucks will dot the BCEC floor and for five days, it will be the largest showroom in the world.
"It's a great opportunity for consumers to plan their next purchase," said Robert F. O'Koniewski, executive vice president of the Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association. "A few hundred cars will be there."
Among those will be the newest models, such as the Honda HR-V Crossover and the Jeep Renegade. And the first East Coast showing of the new Audi A6 and A7, is expected to be among the big enthusiast draws.
Even better for some, four manufacturers — Ford, Kia, Scion and Toyota — will provide qualified show attendees the opportunity to take a test drive. Each manufacturer will also have numerous product experts working the displays to answer questions. And guests can also take home reams of product info.
Talk about one-stop shopping.
O'Koniewski says that prospective buyers may have a bit more urgency this year.
"The average age of a car on the road in Massachusetts is 12 to 13 years old," he said. "During the down economy, people focused on keeping what they had. So the last time someone bought or leased a car may have been awhile, and they are going to find that cars are better-made now. They're more fuel-efficient and structurally safer."
Enhancing the festivities will be fun and games. Contests give guests a shot to win a Nascar Driving Experience, a remote car-start system, a gas card, or tickets to a Celtics game, among other prizes.
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