The world is set to be inundated with global debuts from the world’s leading automotive companies, thanks to the 2016 North American International Auto Show. Opening its doors on January 16th to the public (January 11th for the press), the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan will be packed to the brim with the best minds in the automobile industry, showing off what you can look forward to in the future. The show will continue until January 24th, when the public will no longer be allowed entrance.
Marking its 28th year running, the NAIAS (North American International Auto Show) will be sure to generate a considerable amount of buzz. The show’s slogan, “All roads lead to Detroit” should tell you everything you need to know about the importance of this convention. It is set to have over 750 innovative designs on exhibit, with many surprises to come.
Next year’s show will boast more than 70% new booths and altered locations for participating companies in the building, so even frequent visitors should find the show to have a different feeling compared to previous years. An important note to make is that the Cobo Center has completed its $280 million renovations, so expect a very high tech and flashy atmosphere. The current plans for the event include: a Technology Showcase providing looks at breakthrough innovations, the Eyes on Design Awards where the best cars of the year are celebrated, an Education Day where minds of all ages are welcomed to further engage in lessons and tours, the annual Auto Show Shuffle where entrants can race on foot through Detroit, and the Michelin Challenge Design Competition where teams submit scale models and renderings in a highly competitive academic contest.
Charitable patrons will be able to purchase tickets to the January 15th Charity Preview for $400 per ticket (of which $390 is tax deductible). Those who attend this preview will have access to an extremely exclusive formal event in the name of raising money for charity.
You can be sure to expect all the most important car manufacturers to have a presence, including: Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford and Mercedes-Benz, to name a few. Chairman of the 2016 NAIAS, Paul Sabatini, has said that the number of unveilings at this show will be similar to previous years, of which 90% will be global debuts. With only a few scant weeks left until the show opens, workers at the center are hard at work getting the building ready. It is only a matter of time before we get to see all of the plans that are being kept under wraps.
