As the U.S. automotive industry continues to rebound, numerous high-ranking public officials, including U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, are expected to attend the 2014 North American International Auto Show next week in Detroit.
DETROIT, MI- As the U.S. automotive industry continues to rebound, numerous high-ranking public officials, including U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, are expected to attend the 2014 North American International Auto Show next week in Detroit.
From well-known Michigan politicians, including Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Gov. Rick Snyder, to Biden and other officials from Washington, D.C., public officials are coming to the Motor City in droves to see the best the automotive industry has to offer.
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 automakers display more than 700 vehicles, including more than 50 new cars and trucks.
Biden is expected to tour the show floor Wednesday during Industry Preview. Other Washington, D.C. officials, according to NAIAS organizers, include Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy and NHTSA Deputy Administrator David Friedman.
The NAIAS also expects visits from a number of Congressional members and senators, including U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.); state governors; and international dignitaries.
Vice President Joe Biden greets supporters during a campaign stop at Renaissance High School, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012, in Detroit.The packs of politicians visit Detroit as views about manufacturing and the U.S. automotive industry have changed in our nation’s capital, according to Ziad S. Ojakli, Ford vice president of government and community relations.
“Manufacturing is back,” he said Thursday night during the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce’s annual MICHauto meeting in downtown Detroit. “And the neatest thing about being in Washington these days is that people want to listen to us.”
Ojakli said during the dark days of the industry in 2008-2009 officials in Washington, D.C. were interested in hearing about the industry, but would do nothing to help it.
Now, he said, “there’s an appetite to not only listen, but to try to do, and understand, and to help manufacturing.”
The NAIAS is considered one of the top global automotive events in the world and of huge importance to Metro Detroit. Since its introduction 25 years ago, officials estimate the show has had a $9.7 billion economic impact on the region. This year is expected to have a $365 million impact.
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 featuring musician Sheryl Crow on Jan. 17.
Automakers are expected to unveil more than 50 vehicles during the two-day Press Preview to start the 2014 NAIAS.
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 are $350. For more information on tickets, visit naias.com.
Click here for the most recent news from the 2014 NAIAS.
Michael Wayland covers the automotive industry for MLive. Email him at MWayland@mlive.com & follow him on Twitter @MikeWayland or Google+.