2010 Detroit Auto Show main floor is full, recession officially OVER
by Chris Shunk on Sep 19th 2009 at 9:13AM 
The 2009 North American International Auto Show was a bit of a disaster. The very difficult and uncertain economic conditions resulted in several high-profile automakers dropping out of the exhibition. Among the absent automakers were Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi and Porsche, and a quick jaunt around Cobo's main floor revealed the empty spaces left by those big-time players. The future of the Detroit Auto Show is already looking brighter, however, with the approval of a much-needed overhaul of Cobo Hall, and more good news is coming in the way of a full main floor.
Detroit show organizers aren't yet ready to tip their hand as to which automakers will be attending the show, but among those likely to return are Nissan and Infiniti, as Japan's number three automaker is just too big to stay out of the North American International Auto Show two years in a row. The Detroit Free Press reports that Porsche has been unhappy with the lack of major media coverage at the L.A. Auto Show, and the German automaker could turn to Detroit to get its media fix. Porsche could also find itself sharing space with its new parent, Volkswagen.
While Detroit looks bring back some automakers that were lost last year, North America's biggest auto show could also bring in some newcomers. Fiat's partnership/ownership of Chrysler could mean that Fiat and Alfa Romeo models wind up parked near the Chrysler booth. India's Mahindra group, which is looking to sell trucks and SUVs here in the States, could be another option, as could China's BYD. We're really looking forward to this year's NAIAS, and it will be nice to once again see a full main floor. Another Detroit January, on the other hand, is something we can do without.
[Source: The Detroit Free Press]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ryan 9:23AM (9/19/2009)
Well this certainly is great news. I would love to see Fiat/Alfa at a show. It'd be a first for me.
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Tony 9:26AM (9/19/2009)
Look for a lot more shrubbery.
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jpm100 10:02AM (9/19/2009)
"Ni!"
Ben 9:58AM (9/19/2009)
Be nice to see alfa/fiat there specially the one that they are going to bring to the states. I am looking forward to see them. They might actually be my wife's next car like the fiat 500 if their bring it here
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Kumar 10:34AM (9/19/2009)
Yes, definitely. Since there is only a 2011 Grand Cherokee from Chrysler. It would be outstanding if Fiat brought over as much as possible, even if only to taunt the US buyers into wanting more rebadged Fiats.
Avinash machado 10:07AM (9/19/2009)
Good news for Detroit which almost lost the chance of hosting the NAIAS.
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spa2nky1 10:12AM (9/19/2009)
And last year was kind of depressing...large empty areas on the main floor, that moldy smell of an over watered indoor forest downstairs.
yuck
alex 7:06PM (9/19/2009)
You can't lose the chance to host something that you own. Why don't people understand this?
daleam 8:32PM (9/19/2009)
LOL
Kumar 10:20AM (9/19/2009)
Have they blocked off some space for renovations (deducted 20% of floor space)? Last year was the first time in the last decade I bailed on the auto show there. It's at least good for kicks watching strange looking people who only venture into Detroit for the auto show (or may be a wings or tigers game).
In general, auto shows are toast with the prevalence of sites like AB. There's just no need to see a new model, when you've been seeing spy shots, and then leaked photos weeks before the shows.
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UCJR 10:32AM (9/19/2009)
I wouldn't say that auto shows are dead. I go to the Cincinnati autoshow every year so that I can get a real look at vehicles before they hit showrooms. Pictures and spy shots, no matter how highly defined, can't top seeing something with my own eyes.
With that said, I expect the Crosstour to be even uglier in person.
Brian 10:57AM (9/19/2009)
Yeah no substitute for seeing a car in person. Ex. interior quality, the interior on the Chevy Malibu LTZ LOOKS good...until you see it in person and touch it, then the GM cheapness and cost-cutting shows. I expect it is the same way with a LaCrosse.
jv2k 6:02PM (9/19/2009)
Well the busiest times for automotive news sites seems to still be auto shows, and nothing beats seeing a car in person vs in pictures.
Judy Zik 10:38PM (9/19/2009)
The Internet is no substitute for actually seeing first hand. There is no substitute for sitting in the vehicles and feeling the materials or lifting the hoods and snooping around. You just can't get the same feeling from a few pictures. Especially with the rampant use of photoshop. My personal favourite though is going to the autoshow after it has been open a few days. Looking at the interiors you get a pretty good idea of how things are going to wear with use. After 3 or 4 days on the floor the cheap interiors start showing scuff marks and saggy worn seats.
It is also worth noting that BYD was there last year. There were actually one of the highlights of the show for me. I find it interesting to see how fast the Chinese are learning as well as the mistakes they are still making. A personal favourite is passenger side only vanity mirrors.
Isle of Man 10:23AM (9/19/2009)
test...nothing to see here!
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D Fisk 10:27AM (9/19/2009)
I remember seeing alfa at the northwood show before they pulled out of america. I too look forward to seeing them back. They make some great cars that look great in photo's.Can't wait to see them in person.
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Brian 10:54AM (9/19/2009)
I sure hope FIAT does better than they did in the '80s once they kill off what's left of Chrysler.
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TKOsoccer03 11:14AM (9/19/2009)
first of all, how is the recession over when unemployment is still on the rise?
second of all .. why does everybody want a fiat all of a sudden? their build quality is worse than chryslers!!! everything they build is garbage!
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vespid82 11:38AM (9/19/2009)
Well, technically, they also build...
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/01-gran-cabrio-live.jpg
and
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/01-ferrari-458-live.jpg
TKOsoccer03 12:00PM (9/19/2009)
They have ownership in Ferrari dummy .. they don't build them. Ford never built or engineered Aston Martins, they just had part ownership.
Honestly .. just do a few quick Googles and you will find that Fiat build quality is among the worst.
And actually Ferrari isn't known for reliability either, so we don't want that either.