National automotive road show and global marketplace draw big crowds in Toronto.

On June 4, the Driven Toronto Aftermarket Car Show (drivenshow.ca/Toronto) returned. Taking place at the Square One shopping centre in Mississauga, Ont., it provided an opportunity for car enthusiasts to get together, admire some of the finest special interest vehicles from across Canada, as well as search for parts, accessories, and detailing products for their own cars and trucks. Driven Toronto is part of a series of eight events being hosted across the country this year. According to Mark Seto, Producer of the Driven automotive events, these shows attract car enthusiasts and show vehicles of all different backgrounds and types, so you’ll find everything from Nissan 350Zs and Scion FR-S coupes, to Porsche 993s and 1960s Ford Mustangs.

Big success, national exposure

Throughout the afternoon on June 4, 6388 visitors attended, with 530 vehicles competing and 70 exhibitors from across Canada. The event proved a big success, and the presence of companies like eBay affirmed the national exposure Driven now attracts with these automotive showcases. Ryan Baltjes, Head of Automotive Parts and Accessories, Canada, for eBay, notes that a platform like Driven presents a fantastic opportunity to connect with car enthusiasts across the country, since these events take place in different cities, including Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. Baltjes explains that because these events attract buyers and enthusiasts that are looking to acquire parts for their vehicle, as well as small businesses looking to sell such products to their target audience, it represents a unique opportunity for eBay to help both parties. “We got some really great feedback from the event in Toronto,” says Baltjes, “with people telling us they have a great experience acquiring hard-to-find parts and others who tend to buy a lot of their components and accessories from us.”

DIY resurgence

Baltjes notes that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the trend towards DIY servicing, maintenance, and accessorizing of vehicles has increased, and now, with in-person events enjoying a resurgence, interest and enthusiasm are only expected to continue growing.

As for Driven itself, Mark Seto explains that the plan is to continue bringing car enthusiasts together from across the country and from all different backgrounds. Additionally, he explains that strategic objectives also include developing content outside the events themselves. “That’s where I think we can offer real value to our exhibitors like eBay Motors,” says Seto. “By developing video and social media feeds, content and information, we become not just a series of automotive events, but also a marketing platform and there is value in that for both enthusiasts and vendors.”