$90m upgrade to Cobo being pushed as automakers drop out
The North American International Auto Show is by far the largest auto show in North America, but the small, aging facility that houses the new car party is prompting automakers to ditch the event all-together. In response to news that Suzuki has joined Porsche in bowing out of the 2009 show, the city of Detroit is rushing a $90M plan to increase floor space by 80,000 sq. ft. The move is seen as a stop-gap measure, with other more grand plans still on the way at a later date. With far superior facilities in New York, Chicago, and LA, Detroit may not have long to act.
For people in the Detroit area, the Cobo expansion has been a hot topic of conversation, but one that typically doesn't get beyond the talking stage. If area executives continue to try to one-up each other, argue and get nothing done, more automakers are likely to bow out in the future.
[Source: Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
sam Scherer 6:22PM (6/27/2008)
Considering what the economy has been doing this week, this is a bad time for this to be on the table. Hopefully detroit will have something to show.
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Randy 8:45PM (6/27/2008)
Not being mean to Detroit but maybe they should have thought of that before they let the place lack for so long! Ya know? It's kinda self inflicted! Much like the big three getting their behinds handed to them! Yeah their quality (other than Chrysler) is even with and even above Toyo and Honda but the echo just keeps echoing!
I really take my hat off to Ford for their unreal quality ratings! Mercury (Ford's brand) is above Honda! Who would imagine!
sam Scherer 9:08PM (6/27/2008)
At one time we were a very industrial nation. GM and Ford are not the only companies that have lost share in their markets over the years, leaving many cities everywhere in a bad spot economically. Having spent a lot of time in upstate NY I understand why there isn't a lot of money floating around to fund this convention center which is not even owned by any of the big 3. Corporate business as usual aside - i'm not sure how much could have been done here. I just hope that Detroit does not become a ghost town like many cities around the nation.
Matt Keller 10:49PM (6/27/2008)
It's a bad thing to create jobs and bring back more automakers to the Detroit show?
AMcA 10:57PM (6/27/2008)
This is so depressing. GM's dying. Cobo's on life support.
I predict Chicago takes over for Detroit, in so far as it can.
This is so depressing.
Dave 6:59AM (6/28/2008)
The guy who wrote this story doesn't know what he's talking about. The Detroit may be the premier auto show, at least that's what they say, but the Chicago auto show is much larger and has many more cars than Detroit. Chicago consistantly has over 1 million visitors yearly, something that Detroit can't claim and size is no comparison.
Noe 9:58AM (6/28/2008)
Go Chi-town!!!
Pipepr 12:03PM (6/30/2008)
Yeah, I have to agree, Chicago actually holds the largest North American car show, and has been for years and years.
Detroit may be home for a lot of automakers, but not for the car shows. Chicago owns that title, always will.
Mayur 6:47PM (6/27/2008)
The Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in the country and the third in the world.
The North American International Auto Show usually has the most revealing but that does not make it the biggest.
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kp 8:53AM (6/28/2008)
Actually Cleveland claims to have the largest Auto Show in north america. Though they are probably talking about floor area which was 1.3M sqft this year.
Greg Puhler 6:50PM (6/27/2008)
$1,125 per square foot? Who's getting the kick backs?
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Todd 6:55PM (6/27/2008)
Wouldn't that $90m be put to better use somewhere else in the city?
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steve-o 11:55AM (6/30/2008)
yes!
Kwame kilpatrick still has legal bills the city needs to pay!
the Manoogian mansion needs a new stripper pole too.
Tagg 8:14PM (6/27/2008)
Maybe not in square feet but in terms of industry importance its the largest, bigger than Chicago by far. Ask the people who cover auto shows and I would bet 9 out 10 would say the Detroit show is the better of all the U.S. auto shows due to the amount of new launches that take place year after year.
I understand Detroit is "scary" and some people will never give the show its due but the drop out of Porsche (who really could skip every U.S. auto show and sell as many cars) and Suzuki are hardly point to the end of the Detroit show. I find it intersting that two automakers
pull out and the sky is falling but the addition of the Chinese automakers that have come the past couple years means nothing, even if the product is pretty bad...for now. The Chinese have brought more cars to
the show than Suzuki and Porsche EVER did and the don't even sell them here! But they use the most significant auto show in the U.S. to test the waters in a business descion. If L.A. or Chicago were more signifcant or "bigger" I firmly beleive the Chinese automakers would be there instead.
There is no way Chicago is a "bigger" show except in the size of its exibition space.
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Dave 7:04AM (6/28/2008)
Chicago is bigger in attendence, show room size, and the number of cars on display.
David 10:44PM (6/27/2008)
Detroit is a third world dump. I grew up in another third world dump called Toledo not too far from Detoilet and I have many fond memories of going to the Auto Show. It was the one event that I looked forward to all year long.
With that being said, the city is a colossal embarrassment to what is still a great auto show. I can't imagine what all the reporters think who are visiting America for the first time and their first impression is the broken down buildings, empty skyscrapers and blight of Detroit. For foreign journalist eager to get their first taste of America they probably would find a parallel experience in Darfur, and better weather.
As much as I love the Auto Show, Detroit hardly represents the center of the automotive universe anymore, and it's time to move.
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Steve_S 11:06PM (6/27/2008)
Who really wants to go to Detroit in January anyway. Honestly? April or May maybe but not the middle of winter.
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psarhjinian 2:04PM (6/28/2008)
If I had a choice, I'd go in January. The worst of the natives stay inside in the winter.
Generalmotorsman4life 8:50AM (6/28/2008)
I was born and grew up in Detroit but moved South 10 years ago. I unfortunately attended last years show. I was sadly dissapointed and refused to attend this years show even though I happened to be in town to attend a funeral the weekend the show was going on. In years past I specifically flew up to Detroit to attend last years show. The show to my suprise, had nearly no concept vehicles and the few they had were what had already been revealed on the web. The models although beautiful seemed to have attitudes when asked questions about them (Convertible Camaro Display). Many of the concept vehicles sat at ground level so it was nearly impossible to see the vehicles with 10 people deep surrounding them. People were still trying to push Limo Sized baby strollers through the tight and congested crowds which caused several people including myself to trip and fall to keep from landing on someone's baby. The vehicle manufactures were all partitoined off with ceiling high partition walls so you needed a map to locate the manufactures that interest you -you could not readily see the manufactures upon entering the main COBO exhibition hall. Detroit police officers everywhere as if it were a Rap concert. The downstairs basement used to have countless Hod Rod vehicles but instead only had maybe 10 cars at best and lots of empty space. None of the manufactures had any ellaborate displays as they did in years past saving their concept and new vehicle reveals for the Chicago and LA shows. It is a disgrace to call the Detroit show the most important show in our country!!!!! I flew to the Chicago Show at Mc Cormick and was blown away that the Chicago Show was what the Detroit Show used to be in every aspect of vehicle reveals, concepts and ellaborate displays and was well worth the plane fare I spent to get to Chicago !!!!!
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Potsy 11:38AM (6/30/2008)
Noidor...you need to take a writing class...