The Detroit Auto Show Returns to January

The Detroit Auto Show is moving back to its long-held time slot in January, starting in 2025. This change marks the end of earlier experiments to adjust the show’s timing, which aimed to stimulate interest in auto shows, both in general and particularly for Detroit. Organizers believed that the frigid Michigan weather and the increasingly popular CES in Las Vegas—where temperatures are more inviting—were contributing to lower turnout. Consequently, they considered that a summer or fall event might attract more visitors. After the final January show in 2019, the initial plan was to return in June 2020, but the pandemic’s impact led to the cancellation of the event and a conversion of the convention space into a hospital.

Although the North American International Detroit Auto Show was rescheduled for September 2022, it returned with limited participation from automakers and the same trend continued into the 2023 event, prompting speculation about a return to the traditional January schedule.

Rod Alberts, the executive director of the Detroit Auto Show and the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, has officially confirmed the show’s return on January 10, 2025. The event will commence with the Red Carpet Charity Preview, followed by public days from January 11 to January 20. Notably, there will be no show held in 2024.

The Significance of January Timing

For decades, the Detroit Auto Show was considered the premier international event, kicking off each year with virtually every major automaker and top executive in attendance to unveil significant vehicles and concepts. Automakers invested millions in elaborate displays and promotional events to showcase their innovations.

This January timing proved beneficial not just for the automakers’ budgets but also for the community, as it attracted visitors during a slower tourism period. Additionally, the alignment with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday allowed many families to attend, further enhancing the event’s attendance and significance.