mmarshall

Seems like a pattern developing here. M-B, along with Cadillac and Mitsubishi, skipped the D.C. show this year, and now is announcing that they will not go back to Detroit next year. Given the amount of money that the auto manufacturers spend at these shows, both on their employees there, transporting vehicles and setting things up, renting out floor-space, and in incentives like test-drive gift cards, door prizes, etc... perhaps it is not surprising that some manufacturers are calling it quits.

http://www.autonews.com/article/2018...roit-auto-show

Mercedes-Benz confirmed it will have no formal presence at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2019, striking a blow to the event as more manufacturers save major vehicle introductions for tech conferences or their own special showcases.

Mercedes cited the "rising complexity" of the auto industry and the slew of products and services it’s developing for the decision to reassess its participation in the Detroit show. The German automaker said it will decide on participating in future auto shows and events on a case-by-case basis.

“We are presently working to adjust the scale and size of our auto shows and trade fairs concepts to better align with our upcoming model launches,” the company said in a statement.

On Friday, Automotive News, citing Mercedes executives, reported the luxury brand was expected to skip the 2019 Detroit auto show. Company officials told the newspaper Mercedes was deciding "whether a trade show like Detroit fits with the cadence of our launch calendar and whether there's a more effective format for our needs."

Max Muncey, a spokesman for the Detroit auto show, confirmed Mercedes will skip the event next year, noting that the show is “actively discussing future opportunities” with the brand. Initial meetings with technology providers and other automakers for the 2019 show have “hinted at some big product news earmarked for Detroit,” he added.

Last month, Mercedes made a splash in Detroit when it unveiled the revamped G-Class SUV, drawing on the star power of former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Daimler AG, Mercedes’s parent, is moving toward standalone introductions of new models and technology summits such as CES in Las Vegas, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News last week.

In recent years, Mazda, Mini, Volvo, Porsche, Mitsubishi, Jaguar and Land Rover have also pulled out of the Detroit auto show, citing costs or the decision to reallocate marketing outlays.

Toys4RJill

mmarshall

You might remember from some of my other posts in the past....I've always felt the Detroit show was over-hyped, given how few new vehicles are actually sold in the Detroit area. I don't have the exact number (and, of course, it depends on exactly where you draw the boundaries), but, on average, the DC/MD/VA Metro area sells six times the number of new vehicles that the Detroit region does, and the L.A/SoCal region (which is arguably the center of the nation's car culture) some ten times the number. Yet, the Detroit Show, more by tradition than anything else, has usually been the premier American show for new displays, though the L.A., D.C., and New York shows, to an extent, have come into more importance lately.

But, I agree with you that simply turning one's back and abandoning the Detroit show is not necessarily the answer, either. Like so much else in the auto industry, though, it is probably being done by big-money and cost-saving factors.

tex2670

BMW announced they are following suit on skipping Detroit.

mmarshall

Thanks. I'll post a link on it.

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/in...detroit_a.html

Well, the old saying is that the third one's the charm. Any guesses?

Toys4RJill

mmarshall

Genesis is not a serious threat (yet) to the Germans, either, but will (likely) be in a few more years.

LexBob2

Both of these bands always have a large presence at the Chicago Auto Show which draws over a million visitors each year, but the future of certain brands at auto shows could be changing. There has been a lot of talk about manufacturers focusing on shows like the CES etc.(mentioned in the article) to showcase their new technologies. A difficult situation for Detroit though.

Toys4RJill

mmarshall

Yes, the Chicago region probably deserves a larger show than Detroit. If nothing else, it is a far larger region for actually selling vehicles.

mmarshall

Well, I think I can see where this thread is (eventually) headed to....E-shows on-line, instead of actual physical shows inside of buildings, with incentives for dealer-visits and test-drives sent in the mail for those interested. Ford and Lincoln do that now, in addition to their physical presence at the shows.

If it ever comes to that, I'll surely miss the shows......the D.C. show has been an integral part of my life for decades, though the commuting to and from the show can be a hassle, and my aging knees and back don't take to being on them long hours like they once did.

Toys4RJill

mmarshall

I don't know the answer to that question......we'll have to wait and see. But the general consensus seems to be for less manufacturer-participation in traditional shows.

Like I just mentioned above, though, if it comes to that, I'll sorely miss the traditional shows.

Toys4RJill

mmarshall

I don't go there regularly, but I'm familiar with it. I'm just not convinced it's the best place for actual new vehicle-introductions, for reasons I've already gone into. The L.A. and D.C. regions, from sales alone, would make far more sense. The Detroit show is a tradition more than anything else. The auto press, CEOs, reviewers, and journalists all go there for new intros simply because that's the way the industry's been doing it for the last 40 years LOL.

Apparently (back to the thread-topic), Mercedes and BMW now agree, though Mercedes is also avoiding the D.C show.