Another Major Automaker is Pulling Out of the Detroit Auto Show
BMW is following Mercedes-Benz in withdrawing from the Detroit Auto Show.
It’s another major hit for the annual show in Detroit, as the Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) debates whether it should move the show to October starting in 2020. BMW and Mercedes-Benz are the most recent automakers to announce they won’t be returning next year, joining the likes of Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche, and Mazda, which all didn’t attend this year.
“BMW Group has decided to withdraw from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit,” said BMW. “This decision was made as BMW Group is constantly examining our presence at trade shows and other engagements, while, at the same time, also exploring alternative platforms and formats. The overall goal is to communicate our ideas and plans regarding future mobility in the best way and achieve the greatest possible visibility for our products, technologies and innovations.”
SEE ALSO: Detroit Auto Show Dates Could be Changed Because of CES
The Detroit Auto Show has lost a bit of its appeal over recent years, especially with the Consumer Electronics Show happening around the same time. More and more automakers are choosing to attend CES to showcase new technologies with their vehicles. In addition, January weather in Detroit limits automakers from demonstrating their vehicles outdoors. As a result, DADA is looking at holding the event in fall, when the weather is warmer.
According to Automotive News, a vote by the dealer group is expected by mid-April on whether a date change will be made.
[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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I predict this trickle will turn into a flood as time goes by. The cost of the shows has risen to unfathomable numbers and the resulting sales are not there to sustain the expenses. With the internet making much of the shopping immediately available for cursory lookers, the shows no longer have a purpose. Like shopping malls, new car shows are reaching the end of their usefulness. The internet has proven that, just like online shopping is devastating box stores.