Molinari, who is also chairman of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority that operates Huntington Place, where the show is staged, said the decision was welcome news.
“The Detroit and Southeast Michigan hospitality community, we’re thrilled by this move to have an incredible show during a time of the year that has historically not been the best time to sell major meetings and conventions.”
A message left for Detroit Auto Dealers Association Executive Director Rod Alberts was not immediately returned.
The Detroit News first reported plans for the calendar shift.
The summer edition of the auto show was rolled out as a way to reinvigorate an event that has steadily lost attention and participation over the years due to competing shows and changes in the way auto makers reach customers. The indoor-outdoor hybrid model in the summer sought to engage the community with more general interest appeal, including free activations and nonautomotive entertainment.
Hoverboards, dinosaurs and the Jeep-inspired massive rubber duck certainly brought intrigue, but some critics argued it took attention away from the main attraction: the cars. Last September, organizers opted for fewer gimmicks to turn the focus back on the brands that keep the show rolling.
The show, supported by an $8 million state grant, featured 35 brands across the 723,000-square-foot show floor. Organizers said 16 of the brands were corporate-sponsored, and the rest were displays put together by dealers. The grant carved from the state budget was used to "solidify Michigan's lead in the mobility and electrification sector," Alberts told Crain's last summer.
News of the Detroit show reverting to its traditional slot comes as the automotive world descends on Las Vegas for CES, which has attracted many auto makers and especially suppliers in recent years looking to showcase their latest technology. Competition from CES had been cited as one potential benefit of moving the Detroit show to the summer.
But Molinari said the winter show just makes better sense. "To have the Detroit International Auto Show back in January is going to be majorly positive for our restaurants and our hotels and our attractions."
