The 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit has become quite the drama of late thanks to significant downturns in the automotive market, but a final piece of the puzzle seems to have emerged this morning. Nissan, which pulled out of the Detroit show last month, will apparently now have a no-frills presence funded by its local dealers at the event.
Doug Fox, co-chairman of the show and principal of Ann Arbor Nissan – located in the import-friendly town of Ann Arbor, about an hour from downtown Detroit – confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that some Michigan dealers will fund a simple display at the show.
The space was already paid for, Fox said, so it was simply a matter of bringing some cars to the show and setting them up.
“We’ll let the cars be the stars,” said Fox. The display will have a “a clean open look” much like the General Motors and Chrysler displays at last month’s Los Angeles Auto Show. Those displays were heavy on cars and light on elaborate stands, marketing material and fleshy models.
12/01, 9:47 AM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
cool, does this include Infiniti too? i hope it does
12/01, 1:30 PM
posted by:
beemerdude
The Chrysler exhibit at the L.A. Auto Show was dark and sort of drab. It was the only exhibit that looked like “something’s not right.” You could tell that there was a cash flow problem.
12/01, 2:18 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
beemer dude…… You are so right, I saw it the same way too….
12/01, 4:14 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
it looked like that at the cleveland show too! it was the same crappy mess from the year before! they did that stupid 0-30-0 with the srt8’s and had the off-road stuff. they did the tests as if they were actually proving something with the srt8…even though they only went to 30 which didn’t feel fast and then slammed the braked. it was so STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope they drop out this year. i want to see gm and ford in there along with mazda/mb/bmw/audi/vw/porsche/lexus/toyota/acura/honda/infiniti. thats all i want to see there
12/01, 5:24 PM
posted by:
SubieDoug
I worked for Doug Fox for 2 years. Good employer, very stand-up guy. I’m glad to see him and other dealers taking control and doing this. It’s good for the brand,and good for this region of the state.