The North American International Auto Show gets underway in just a couple of weeks in Detroit. While the show is still really big, it’s facing new competitors.
India-based Jaguar and Land Rover are skipping the Detroit auto show this year to focus on a show in New Delhi. In recent years, some big launches happened at China auto shows instead of Detroit.
Michelle Krebs is with Edmunds.com. She says Detroit’s auto show also has domestic competitors.
"New York, Chicago and L.A. all want to take a big piece of Detroit’s premier status," she notes.
Still, Krebs expects Detroit will remain a crucial showplace, especially for the Detroit Three, European and Korean carmakers.
And while the venue -- Cobo Center - isn't as glitzy or big as some other auto show venues, that can be a plus, she says.
"It (the Detroit show) is all on the same floor, it’s all in the same building. Whereas many other shows you go to multiple buildings, at Detroit, you will not miss anybody or anything because it’s fairly compact."
Press days for the auto show begin January 9th, and the show opens to the public January 14th.