Detroit auto show to leave winter behind
Annual January event moves to June next year
The auto industry will turn its attention to Motown this week for the North American International Auto Show.
About 30 models are expected to be unveiled at the Detroit show, a sharp decrease from the 69 introduced last year.
“Last year, NAIAS generated the vast majority of global visibility for automaker executives, with the majority of the top individuals coming to Detroit,” Bill Golling, NAIAS chairman, said in a news release. “Our show also remains the leader among domestic shows in terms of global media coverage and industry-shaping content, and we’re looking forward to continuing that tradition.”
The show runs Monday through Jan. 27 at the Cobo Center, starting with press previews Monday and Tuesday.
Scheduled for press conferences are Ford, RAM, Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan, Kia, Infiniti, Hyundai, Subaru Tecnica International, Lexus and China’s GAC. Additional automakers and brands will be on the floor of the auto show, including Honda, Acura, Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Chevrolet, Lincoln, Jeep and Dodge. Mercedes, BMW and Audi will be missing this year.
Several vehicles, led by sports cars, are set to debut at the show:
• Subaru’s limitededition STI S209
• Toyota’s 2020 Supra, reviving the sports car that was manufactured from 1978 to 2002. The new Supra prototype made its international debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the United Kingdom.
• Ford’s 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500
• Nissan’s next-generation electric-vehicle concept
• Lexus’ 2020 Lexus RC F Track Edition sports coupe
• Kia’s 2020 Telluride SUV
• Infiniti’s QX Inspiration concept
• Volkswagen is expected to reveal the 2020 Passat.
Winners of the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year awards will be announced Monday. Finalists for Truck of the Year are the Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500. Finalists for Utility Vehicle of the Year are the Acura RDX, Hyundai Kona/kona EV and Jaguar I-pace. Finalists for Car of the Year are the Genesis G70, Honda Insight and Volvo S60/V60.
The Acura RDX is manufactured at the East Liberty Auto Plant northwest of Columbus. Honda is looking to win an award for the fourth consecutive award. Last year, the Honda was named Car of the Year, The Ridgeline pickup truck was Truck of the Year in 2017, and the Civic was Car of the Year in 2016.
This will be the last time the Detroit auto show will brave winter’s wrath; the auto show will take place each June starting next year.
“Our show is undergoing its most significant transformation in the last three decades,” NAIAS Executive Director Rod Alberts said in a news release. “Detroit will continue to be a global stage for some of the world’s most significant and iconic vehicle reveals and host an unparalleled international audience of media and key industry influencers.”
mhenry@dispatch.com @megankhenry