The Detroit auto show will be open to the public from Jan. 18-26 at Cobo Center, One Washington Blvd., following Press Preview Jan. 13-14; Industry Preview Jan. 15-16; and the Charity Preview Jan. 17.
DETROIT- The North America International Auto Show is a shining example of what the City of Detroit has to offer, according to Mayor Mike Duggan.
The new mayor, who toured the show floor Wednesday at Cobo Center, said the show and the more than 50-year-old convention center, which is about 65 percent complete with a $299 million multi-year renovation, have “never looked better.”
“I was here about five years ago when the mood was very different,” he told reporters on the show floor. “You can just feel the excitement and the optimism of the auto industry going the direction that it’s going.
“It’s going to be a big year.”
With about 796,000 people attending the show in 2013 – the highest attendance in nearly a decade – officials anticipate this year’s to be the largest since the early-2000s, as 35 brands from 16 automakers display more than 700 vehicles.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (center) tours the 2014 North American International Auto Show floor Jan. 9 with show officials at Cobo Center in DetroitMore than 5,000 journalists are also expected to attend the show during its Press Preview on Monday and Tuesday.
“When you have journalists from around the world and 800,000 visitors form all over, its huge,” Duggan said. “I think we’ll put our best foot forward.”
That “best foot forward” also translates into money for Metro Detroit. Since the beginning of the NAIAS 25 years ago, officials estimate the show has had a $9.7 billion economic impact on the region. The year is expected to have a $365 million impact.
“This is exactly what Detroit needs,” said NAIAS chairman Bob Shuman, who gave Duggan the tour.
Between 1,000-1,500 people continue to work on setting up the show floor, which looked more like a shipping factory than an auto show floor Thursday morning. But Shuman and other officials, as they do every year, promised that the show will be ready for opening day.
Crews work to set up the Ford display Jan. 9 at Cobo Center for the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit."These guys are working around the clock right now," Shuman said. "It's amazing."
The Detroit auto show will be open to the public from Jan. 18-26 at Cobo Center, One Washington Blvd., following Press Preview Jan. 13-14; Industry Preview Jan. 15-16; and the Charity Preview Jan. 17.
Tickets to the 2014 public show days are $7 for senior citizens and children between 7-12 years old; $13 for adults; and free for children 6 and under. Tickets for the black-tie Charity Preview featuring musician Sheryl Crow are $350. For more information on tickets, visit naias.com.
Check back to MLive for more information and photos from the show floor.
Follow all of the most recent news for the 2014 NAIAS at mlive.com/naias.