LA AUTO SHOW: THE SECRETARY COMES TO TOWN
California’s Transportation Secretary is scheduled to arrive at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show’s press conference day to face some tough questions.
By Zoran Segina
Mon, Nov 17, 2025 05:00 AM PST
Featured image above: California Transportation Secretary Adetokunbo “Toks” Omishakin is scheduled to appear at a press conference on November 20th, ahead of the public opening of the LA Auto Show, which is scheduled for November 21-30, 2025 (Tennessee Department of Transportation photograph).
A high speed rail transportation project turning into a train to nowhere, federal repeal of California tougher emission standards, a tax on EV drivers, coastal roads and railways crumbling to the sea. . . . if you are California Transportation Secretary, Adetokunbo “Toks” Omishakin your job has always been challenging, but in the last year became exponentially more difficult.
Secretary Omishakin will be at a press conference scheduled for November 20, 2025 in advance of the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show. He will likely discuss implementation of California Core Four priorities, i.e., safety, equity, climate action, and economic prosperity in light of current federal administration challenges to California objectives.
A Tennessee native of Nigerian background, Mr. Omishakin has BA in Engineering Technology, Masters in Urban and Regional Planning, and a PhD in Engineering Management from the University of Tennessee. After an eight year stint at the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) as Deputy Commissioner for Environment and Planning, he became Director of Caltrans in September 2019, and in 2022 was appointed California Secretary of Transportation.
Persistent friction between Washington and Sacramento, undoubtedly to continue for next several years, as well as lack of affordability call into question whether carbon neutral transportation and California Core Four priorities can be implemented as envisioned.
LACar editors submitted several questions to Secretary Omishakin in advance of the press conference, and look forward to the speaking engagement.
LA AUTO SHOW
When:
November 21-30, 2025
Show Hours
Where:
LA Convention Center
1201 S Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, 90015
What:
Automotive brands and ride & drives
Tickets:
LA Auto Show ticket page
For more information, go to the
LA Auto Show Website
About The Author
Zoran Segina grew up in Eastern Europe, where he owned several Zastava 750s (a variation of the Fiat 600) and participated in local rallies. After a lengthy diet of Yugoslav-manufactured cars, he came to the Mecca of automotive culture – wherein he promptly lost his heart to a tall girl and a short Dart Swinger. He currently commutes around LA in a BMW 633Csi, having made a switch from a Volvo 240 DL with a quarter million miles on the odometer.