Is It the Beginning of the End for the Detroit Auto Show?
According to a recent report, Mercedes is planning to pull out of the 2019 Detroit Auto Show.
Although the news isn’t official, sources at the German automaker told Automotive News Mercedes-Benz is poised to withdraw from the Detroit Auto Show next year. “We have to look at whether a trade show like Detroit fits with the cadence of our launch calendar and whether there’s a more effective format for our needs,” said the source, who is a senior Mercedes executive close to the plans. The company however, is not ruling out a return in 2020, but it will likely depend on any major debuts planned for early that year.
SEE ALSO: 2018 Detroit Auto Show Coverage
If Mercedes does withdraw from Detroit, it joins a growing list of automakers that have decided to cross the show off its schedule. Mazda, Volvo, Porsche, Jaguar, and Land Rover no longer have a presence at the annual North American International Auto Show, and Mercedes-Benz’s absence would be felt. The automaker traditionally has a rather large display near a high-traffic entrance. This year, it hosted the G-Class unveiling in Detroit with celebrity Arnold Schwarzenegger joining CEO Dieter Zetsche on stage at an event in downtown Detroit.
The executive director of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, Rod Alberts, said that he hasn’t heard about the news yet.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Detroit should fix it's roads before hosting auto shows.
Drop the word "International" from the title name of the event and focus for a few years on American existing marques and the plethora of specialty new comers. Besides Tesla, there are about 8-10 specialty high end/high tech/high performance niche carmakers in development. And there's 4-5 truck and off road vehicle manufacturers coming on stream as well. Why not highlight American creativity?