Detroit Auto Show will move to June in 2020

Detroit is a pretty chilly place in January, but for decades the auto industry has buttoned up against the cold winter winds to display its wares at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in the Motor City, traditionally the first auto show of the year.

But that’s going to change in 2020, when the show moves to a more pleasant summer climate in June.

The Detroit Auto Dealers Association, which organizes the event, announced the change on the NAIAS website.

It said the warmer weather would allow the show to expand beyond its walls at Cobo Hall for more of an outdoor experience.

While the website says the event brought in US$480 million to the city last year, automakers from Germany, Italy and Japan have slowly but surely been dropping off the NAIAS list in the past few years.

As well, competition from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which happens around the same time as the Detroit event, has been attracting more interest.

The change in scheduling for NAIAS will provide the opportunity to expand from being an indoor auto show to include more interactive events outside, such as test drives and a street festival. Driving.ca