Detroit Auto Show 101
Even if you are not a fan of cars, motorsports, or a self-proclaimed gearhead, somewhere along the line you might have heard about the relationship between Detroit and the auto industry. Maybe it was in high school while you learned about Henry Ford, the assembly line and the industrial revolution. Maybe you’ve seen one of the many Chrysler commercials proudly showcasing “Imported from Detroit”. But just maybe, it was because of a less glamorous event, such as when law makers hammered GM, Chrysler and Ford executives for flying their private jets from Detroit to Washington to ask for a 25 billion dollar taxpayer loan in 2008. You get the point, auto manufacturers are to Detroit like cheese is to Wisconsin, and wine to Napa Valley.
Thankfully, the auto industry is back and stronger than ever. This means more jobs, more sales, and more profits so manufacturers can dream big and create cool cars.
Join me in a journey to uncover some exciting facts about what makes the Detroit auto show a world class event.
From Local stage to World stage.
Detroit has hosted an auto show every year since since 1907, it was only during World War II that alike many other events around the country, it was called off.
It was on 1987 that a group of Detroit auto dealers set out to evolve the auto show from a local event to an international affair. They traveled to Japan and Europe to meet with with auto manufacturer executives to convince them to unveil their new models once a year in Detroit. It took a couple of years to get everyone onboard, but in 1989 the Detroit Auto Show was officially renamed the North American International Auto Show or NAIAS.
Since 1989 the North American International Auto Show has continued to grow and earned a top spot among auto shows around the world. In fact, one could debate that the New York auto show gets almost as much attention from the press, but when you compare the amount of cars unveiled, attendance and number of exhibitors, the North American International Auto show remains king of the West.
Personally, it would be a dream of mine to experience the holy trinity of Detroit, Frankfurt and Geneva auto shows in the same year. Now that would be incredible! (Wink Wink)
How the auto show contributes to society.
Here are some cool facts on the 25th Anniversary of the North American International Auto Show. You can read many more at NAIAS.com/show-history
– Over 1,359 vehicles have been unveiled and introduced.
– Over 18 million people have attended the auto show.
– The charity preview days (when you can pay big money for a show ticket to visit before the general public) have raised over 47 million dollars during the last 10 years!
– The North American International Auto Show Charity Preview is the largest single night fundraiser in the WORLD!
– Over 124,000 media and press members have been credentialed at the North American International Auto Show throughout the years. Thank you for that!
– The COBO convention center; where the auto show is held every year, is just blocks away from the General Motors Headquarters, and a stones throw away from the first auto manufacturing plant in America (Ford). Therefore giving the auto show a magical feel of being right where it all started.
Experience it.
If you live in the Midwest, please for the love of cars visit Detroit. I’m not even telling you to go during the auto show, although you really should. Don’t be one of the many that talk smack about the city but yet has never been. Detroit holds a special place in my heart because it’s where the American Dream began, it’s where people from all over the world worked together under one roof to build the Ford Model T and put America on the map. Teach your kids about history and the lessons you can learn from an abandoned auto manufacturing plant that was once the role model of an industrial empire, now sidelined as a slum. But I can bet you one thing, Detroit is resilient and will come back, the auto manufacturers have come back, and Detroit will some day see success once again.
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Jamie says
January 19, 2015 at 1:45 pmVisiting Detroit is definitely something that is on my bucket list!! Cars are a part of our family and I would love to see this place looks, in person! 🙂
Jeanine says
January 19, 2015 at 1:58 pmWhat a fun event! I haven’t been to a car show in years. Even then it was the one in Toronto, not Detroit and I’ve heard great things about the one in Detroit!
CouponGal (Andi) says
January 19, 2015 at 2:03 pmi know – the Auto Show usually hits NYC around April – i can hardly wait to go this year 😀
Tea says
January 19, 2015 at 2:13 pmIt looks like a fun event..great pictures!
Julee says
January 19, 2015 at 2:22 pmI went to detroit last weekend for the first time. Granted it was a layover in the airport, but I was there. How I would have loved to have attended this autoshow. Such a fabulous history Ford has in changing our commutes. So glad you were able to attend and capture such stunning picture.
Missi says
January 19, 2015 at 2:28 pmYes, it really is an interesting place!
Missi says
January 19, 2015 at 2:29 pmSo much fun! And so much history
Hazel JL says
January 19, 2015 at 2:41 pmWhat a great event! My husband would have loved to see or attend a car show. I know some about the auto industry because my cousins live in Michigan and they working for the auto industry.
Jenn says
January 19, 2015 at 3:53 pmI am not a real car girl, but there is something about a car show that draws me in!! I love seeing the new and old cars!
Terri says
January 19, 2015 at 4:39 pmI cannot wait to go to another car show, I work in the industry so I am always fascinated by it
Stephanie Keeping says
January 19, 2015 at 4:42 pmWow! It looks like a lot of fun. My husband loves Auto Shows. I bet he would have love to see it in person.
Dawn @ Pin-n-Tell says
January 19, 2015 at 5:18 pmHow cool! I actually liked my visit to Detroit to see the Ford Museum… I need to get to that auto show though 🙂
Athena says
January 19, 2015 at 6:44 pmWe would all love to go to one of those big car shows. I have never heard of any around here.
kungphoo says
January 19, 2015 at 11:09 pmVery cool.. We came very close indeed to losing most of the US auto manufacturing sector back in 08. Detroit was hit very hard so its nice to see this alive and well!
Kristin says
January 20, 2015 at 12:40 amMy mom’s hometown is Detroit and I would love to see it return to vitality!
vidya Sudarsan says
January 20, 2015 at 2:18 amWow.. looks amazing.. someday I want to visit an auto show 🙂
Goody Bag Lady says
January 21, 2015 at 9:55 pmWe wolves to attend car shows! They are so much fun.
In fact we are super excited this is our first year doing their event swag/goody bags for one of our local car shows!!
Diana @ Nanny to Mommy says
January 22, 2015 at 1:19 pmI use to love to attend car shows with my dad. Thanks for sharing.
Cheshire Cat says
January 23, 2015 at 9:01 pmI’d love to got to a carshow in Detroit, it’s not that far, but not that close either.
Tesha Fritz says
January 25, 2015 at 7:12 pmMotor city is back on the map. The city has fallen on hard times but has a rich history.
Sarh S says
January 25, 2015 at 8:20 pmDefinitely a place I would love to visit one day. My grandpa and I used to share an interest in drooling at beautiful cars we’d never be able to afford, I miss going to auto shows here in Milwaukee with him.
Holly S. says
January 25, 2015 at 8:58 pmI know so many guys that would just drool their way through it! Great info!