| Detroit Free Press
After years of trying to rediscover itself as an indoor-outdoor event that will fill downtown Detroit with new cars and car festivals, the North American International Motor Show is folding its tent for 2021 and moving to M1 Concourse, a small development consisting of a racetrack surrounded by luxury garages in Pontiac.
The new show, named Motor Bella, will be a ‘bridge to the future’ of the motor show, according to a statement from the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, which runs the motor show.
Motor Bella has a shortened run from Sept. 21-26, significantly less than the original plan for events in downtown Detroit from Sept. 24 to October. 9. The name ‘Motor Bella’ would be used for a street market with Italian and English luxury and performance models near Detroit’s stadium district.
“It will be just as fluid with events as in 2020, especially since the effects of the vaccine are slower and more unnecessary than you’d like,” said Michelle Krebs, an analyst at Cox Automotive.
Sources cite concerns that COVID-19 will continue to rage for the move to the smaller venue, which is completely outside. In addition to vehicle shows from car manufacturers, the M1 Concourse will also allow for opportunities to showcase vehicle performance and technology.
Charity event
The smaller event will still have a charitable component to compensate for the cancellation of the Charity Preview, one of Detroit’s most popular tickets and a million-dollar charity for groups in southeast Michigan.
“This outdoor venue with adrenaline pumping activities and a complete complement to OEM and technology exhibits, offers the sights, sounds and even the smell of everything the new world of mobility has to offer,” said DADA director Rod Alberts.
The move is a significant retrenchment from just three months ago, when the show’s organizers announced an extravaganza in the TCF Center and surrounding streets, parks and public areas in downtown Detroit.
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“While car shows are still an important platform to promote new mobility innovations and help people make important decisions about purchasing vehicles, the traditional car show model is changing,” said Rod Alberts. “We can not ignore the biggest disruption caused by the pandemic, and the impact it has had on budgets. As such, we will provide a wonderful experience to the media, the automotive industry and the public in a cost effective manner. ‘
In addition to a 1.5-kilometer track, the M1 offers space to demonstrate vehicles’ off-road capability. Motor Bella will include 1.6 million square feet of exhibits and demonstrations.
This is the second year that major US car shows have been driven by COVID-19. The Chicago Motor Show, which traditionally takes place in February, is seeking government approval to take place in April. The Los Angeles show, which announced a few months ago from fall to spring, may be on thin ice as Los Angeles is still a hotspot for viruses. The LA program is currently scheduled for May 21-31.
If Detroit’s decision is a guideline, the 2021 New York Motor Show, scheduled for the Javits Center in Manhattan on August 20-29, could also be in jeopardy.
Impact on the city center
Show organizers say nothing about the future, or the name of the North American international motor show will survive.
“We are very aware of the importance and impact that our show and our events have on the state and the entire metro Detroit area. It will always be part of our considerations for the future, ”said Doug North, chairman of the show. The car show was a major driver for business in restaurants, hotels and other businesses in the city center.
The economic impact of the show was estimated at up to $ 450 million a year, as hotels and restaurants were full of visitors, including workers who built extensive exhibitions for weeks and journalists and car drivers from around the world. It is also known that the show attracts about 800,000 paying customers to its public days.
While M1 covers approximately 87 acres, Woodward Avenue borders the southern boundary of Pontiac. It does not have the Detroit downtown parking and parking infrastructure, which virtually ensures smaller crowds than previous car shows.
Dates for 2021 Motor Bella
- Press preview, Tuesday, September 21
- AutoMobili-D, Tuesday 21 September to a half day Thursday 23 September
- Industry preview, Wednesday 22 September and a half day Thursday 23 September
- Public show, Thursday 23 September to Sunday 26 September