 Photo courtesy of Dave Trumpie
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), happening right now at Cobo Center in Detroit with more than 50 new vehicle unveilings from 17 global auto manufacturers, is making headlines throughout the world.
Some of the early buzz
Governor Rick Snyder kicked off the show on Tuesday at a press conference where he announced a partnership between the state and the University of Michigan to start the further exploration of intelligent transportation systems. The announcement was made on the heels of legislation Snyder recently signed that made Michigan the fourth state to approve testing of autonomous vehicles on state roads.
“Michigan’s automotive future is as important as its historic past, and it is just as bright,” Snyder said in his announcement. “By working together with great partners in education and the auto industry, we are strengthening our lead as the world headquarters for auto manufacturing and research and development.”
Nigel J. Francis, Michigan’s automotive advisor, touted Michigan’s strength as the undisputed automotive capital of the world when he spoke with the Detroiter Magazine about the industry’s strategies, priorities and role in implementation of economic development.
“The industry should congratulate itself on such a strong turnaround and the positive effects of that turnaround are seen today everywhere in the state,” Francis said in the article. “The automotive industry is our core industry in the state – our anchor, and our means of moving forward economically into the future.”
Photo courtesy of Dave Trumpie
The cars
With vehicle sales rising over the past four years, emphasis on performance and luxury has been just as much a focus as fuel efficiency at the NAIAS.
NBC Nightly News featured a segment on the Auto Show and how it is driving the industry forward.
General Motors had a double win: The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is the North American Car of the Year and Chevrolet’s Silverado is the North American Truck of the Year.
Other debuts included the 2015 Ford F-150, the 2015 Chrysler 200, Toyota’s FT-1 sports car concept, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Cadillac ATS Coupe, Porsche 911 Targa, and more.
About the NAIAS
An estimated 5,000 journalists and 800,000 visitors are expected to attend the 25th anniversary of the NAIAS, open to the public Jan. 18 through Jan. 26.
The NAIAS has an enormous economic impact on the local economy. The NAIAS is expected to generate nearly $400 million for Detroit – an 8 percent increase from last year. Downtown hotels are reporting occupancy more than three-quarters full.
You can watch the setup of the NAIAS in less than two minutes with this time-lapse video.
To attend the NAIAS, purchase tickets here. Follow all the latest NAIAS buzz with us on Twitter @MIAdvantage and with the show’s social media hashtag #NAIAS.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, a public-private partnership serving as the state’s marketing arm and lead agency for business, talent and jobs, focuses on helping grow Michigan’s economy. For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit michiganbusiness.org.
|
