The Detroit auto show, officially called the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), is moving. It’s not leaving Detroit, but planners for the show want to put it outdoors and move it to June. This would fundamentally change how the Detroit show has been conducted for decades.
The NAIAS has been losing relevance. As other shows, like the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas, enroach on the Detroit show’s early January timing, NAIAS has seen less interest from the automotive press and thus less interest from manufacturers. Normally held in the dead of winter, in early-mid January, the show becomes a logistical pain in the keister for both display participants and attendees.
The North American International Auto Show’s board has decided to transition the annual Detroit show to an indoor/outdoor event held in June, starting with the show coming in 2020. This will reduce the amount of logistics and planning required for attendance, improve the space allowed for manufacturers and booths, and give opportunity for those often excluded from the show, such as local vendors, to participate. Plans for a food court with local fare, ferries to move patrons around the river front, and a lot of other things are being showcased in the NAIAS 2020 video and renderings.
The following video visualizes what the NAIAS board has in mind.
