Is the Detroit Auto Show Dead?

After skipping ahead to 2024, the Detroit Auto Show kicked off earlier today. What you might not have noticed, however, is that the only news from the event was the winners of the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year awards.

Before the event, Ford launched the Mustang RTR and Mustang GTD Spirit of America. That’s a far cry from previous years, and sadly, it makes the 2024 Chicago Auto Show look crowded by comparison.

More: Ford Mustang GTD American Spirit Edition shows patriotism

In the days and weeks leading up to the event, the Detroit Auto Show website promised that a schedule of 2025 press events would be announced soon. However, they recently removed the page and you now receive a 404 error. This goes to show that the show doesn’t even have any events worth mentioning.

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This brings us to the elephant in the room, which we didn’t bother attending. 2022 was a bad year for the show, but 2023 is a major improvement. By 2025, it won’t even be worth driving an hour into town, which will be worth it for a guy who writes about cars for a living.

While organizers have made it clear they won’t be focusing on the media, it’s hard to get excited about this year’s event. In fact, it sounds more like the ill-fated Southeastern Michigan Auto Show than the Detroit Auto Show.

Dinosaurs at 2022 shows may hint at extinction/Michael Gauthier of Carscoops

However, it’s not that bad as both automakers and dealers are involved. General Motors, Ford and Stellantis are influential, with Toyota and Volkswagen joining them at the corporate level. Dealers, four indoor tracks, and randomness help fill out the remaining space.

The show opens to the public tomorrow, with tickets $20 for adults, $12 for seniors (65+) and $10 for children ages 3 to 12. That’s quite pricey for something that looks bland, but there’s a $50 family pass that can be purchased. Includes admission for two adults and up to three children.

With that said, is the Detroit Auto Show dead or is it just transitioning into a post-auto show era? We hope it’s the latter, as some high-profile shows are no longer with us. Of course, without much new, it’s hard to justify a trip to the Motor City.