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2012 NAIAS: A Glimpse into the Future of the Automotive Industry
January 9th is the official opening of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), and of course Mintel will be there to cover all the exciting new production and concept vehicles. NAIAS dates back to 1907, when the first auto show was held at the Beller’s Beer Garden in Detroit. The show has been held annually since 1907, with a exception between 1943-1952. In 1989 the auto show was renamed North American International Auto Show, and has been held in the iconic Cobo Center since 1961. For the automotive industry, NAIAS is a mix between New York Fashion Week and the Academy Awards. Automotive companies plan new vehicle and concept introductions for the press and industry analysts. The show is also the platform where the North America Car and Truck of the Year are announced. The winners of the NACTOY are selected by a group of automotive journalists from the U.S. and Canada.
The show itself was a true spectacle in pre-recession years. One of the biggest attention grabbing events was for the launch of the 2009 Dodge Ram, which was a true game changer product. Chrysler, which is the parent of the Dodge brand, has always been known for its stunts at NAIAS. The company has crashed a Jeep through the front of the Cobo convention center, and when Chrysler unveiled the Chrysler Aspen, there was a simulated indoor snowstorm in Cobo.
In an attempt to outdo itself, Chrysler, took to the streets of Detroit and launched the 2009 Dodge Ram with a herd of 120 cattle. The Dodge Ram trucks drove the herd of cattle down the streets while riders on horseback made sure the cattle did not stray too far.
While extravagant events such as cattle drives through the streets of Detroit have stopped since the 2008 recession, there may be some show stopping plans this year.
The 2012 NAIAS will bring a large list of new product launches and concept vehicles to Detroit. With 35-40 new vehicles expected to debut at NAIAS. A partial list is below.
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2012 Bentley Continental GT V8 |
2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe (North American Debut) |
2012 BMW 3 Series (North America Debut) |
2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class |
2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 5 |
2012 Mini Roadster |
2013 Acura MDX |
2013 Ford Fusion |
2013 Buick Encore |
2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid |
2013 Cadillac ATS |
Ford Evos (North American Debut) |
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS |
Nissan EV Van Concept |
2013 Dodge Dart |
Lexus Concept Car |
2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept |
Volkswagen EV Concept? |
AMP Electric SUV |
2013 Nissan Pathfinder Concept |
Acura ILX Concept |
Buick Encore |
Acura NSX Concept |
Lincoln MKZ |
Smart Forus However, the show is more than just debuts. The NAIAS will also award the winner of the 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year. The respective finalists for the 2012 NACTOY are:
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