Joining us on today’s episode of CBT Now we have Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’ Executive Director of Industry Insights. Caldwell is providing us with a look inside the ongoing Detroit Auto Show taking place from September 13-24.
The Detroit Auto Show, also known as the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., at Huntington Place. The show was held in January from 1989 to 2019. It was intended to move to the summer of 2020 but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic that year and 2021 before returning in September 2022. It is among the largest auto shows in North America and is “regarded as the foremost venue for car manufacturers to unveil new products.”
Key Takeaways:
1. The attendance at this year’s auto show may not have been as healthy as before the pandemic, but it wasn’t bad. This year, test tracks drew the most attention to the exhibition.
2. Audience members learned more about the Ford F-150 ICE and hybrid vehicle refresh. Unfortunately, the Lightning was not on display, but customers could still learn about the vehicle’s capabilities while receiving answers to their most frequent questions. Ford also declared that it would increase its output of hybrid vehicles.
3. This year’s test track offered viewers a limited selection of EVs, but EV makers also refrained from revealing additional makes or models.
4. Given that the exhibit was in Detroit and the Midwest is ideally suited for larger trucks, Caldwell believes the event impacted buyers’ enthusiasm for the new F-150.
5. Caldwell asserts, “Along with allowing visitors to touch, feel, and experience various vehicles, the show is a great, low-impactful way to enjoy the 38 distinct brands on display here.”
6. Despite the sluggish adoption of EVs, Caldwell is quite interested in how attendees will respond to general EV promoters and the overall consumer sentiment.
“As inventory has grown, the auto show has become a better shopping experience as of late.” – Jessica Caldwell
