Detroit show postponed until 2021

The Detroit-based North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) event in June has been postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s expected plans to repurpose the TCF Centre into a temporary field hospital.

“Although we are disappointed, there is nothing more important to us than the health and well-being of the citizens of Detroit and Michigan, and we will do what we can to support our community’s fight against the coronavirus outbreak,” says NAIAS executive director Rod Alberts.

“More than 100 convention centres and facilities around the country being considered to potentially serve as temporary hospitals, and it became clear to us that TCF Centre would be an inevitable option to serve as a care facility to satisfy our community’s urgent health needs,” says Albert.

NAIAS will hold its next annual show in June 2021.

Chairman Doug North says show officials are also discussing plans for a fundraising activity later this year to benefit the children’s charities that were designated as beneficiaries of the 2020 Charity Preview event.

“We know these organisations rely on the money raised at Charity Preview to fund many support services for the most vulnerable in our community,” says North. “With this in mind, we will be in touch with the charities in the near future to present some ideas.”

North, who will act as Chairman of the 2021 NAIAS, expressed the show’s gratitude to all of its stakeholders.

“The level of excitement for the 2020 show was extraordinary, and we deeply appreciate all of the support from our OEM partners and our more than 200 valued sponsors, as well as the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan,” North said.

All tickets purchased for the 2020 NAIAS show, including tickets for the Public Show, Industry Preview and Charity Preview will be fully refunded. Charity Preview ticket holders will be given the option of a refund, or the opportunity to donate the proceeds of their refund to one of the nine designated Charity Preview beneficiaries. The NAIAS ticket office will be in contact with all ticket holders.

The 2021 public show dates are June 19 to June 26, with the industry preview on June 16 – 17.