Windsor, Ontario — Yet another in-person industry event cancelled due to the rising concerns of the pandemic, this time the North American International Auto Show, (NAIAS) normally held at the TCF Centre in downtown Detroit is the victim.
Instead, the organizers have decided to shift gears to an outdoor event that will now take place at a nearby race track in Pontiac, Michigan. The new exhibit, now called Motor Bella, will take place September 21 through 26 at the M1 Concourse that boasts 1.6 million square feet of display space.
The now condensed convention would have taken over downtown Detroit from Sept. 24 – Oct. 6 with various luxury vehicle displays and new technology demonstrations. According to the Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) the new show will be “a bridge to the future” of auto shows.
“This all-outdoor venue, with adrenaline-pumping track activities and a full complement of OEM and technology exhibits, is going to offer the sights, sounds and even the smell of all that the new world of mobility has to offer,” said Rod Alberts, DADA executive director.
Organizers are looking to deliver a similar experience to previous years by featuring an extensive range of brands and vehicles, not to mention demonstrations on state-of-the-art technology and performance tools along with a variety of exciting track activities.
The surging pandemic has proven difficult for conventions of any kind to take place as they normally would, ultimately causing a move to digital mediums for unveilings and demonstrations. The auto show platform struggles to stay relevant when big automakers can provide consumers with online demos of technology advancements.
“While auto shows remain an important platform to promote new mobility innovations and to help people make major vehicle purchase decisions, the traditional auto show model is changing,” Alberts said. “We cannot ignore the major disruptions caused by the pandemic and the impact it has had on budgets. As such, we will be providing an amazing experience to the media, the auto industry and the public in a cost-effective way.”
