Last fall, Nissan had announced that it would not have an official presence at the show, but a number of Nissan dealership owners in Michigan said they would fund a simple display filled with cars, brochures and no other frills. Now it appears that, in response to pressure from Nissan’s headquarters, those dealers won’t show any cars at next week’s North American International Auto Show.
The show, which begins on Sunday for the media and opens to the public late next week, has seen a number of automakers pull out entirely.
Doug Fox, owner of Ann Arbor Nissan and co-chairman of the show, is being forced to walk a fine line. He told the Detroit News that the dealers were told of Nissan’s wish to not be included in the show just before Christmas and that as “dealer partners,” they were obliged to pull out of the show.
We were moving forward with manning the show, but were notified that Nissan would really appreciate that we respect their decision not to have a presence,” he told the newspaper.
Instead, the 25,000 square foot display in the Cobo Center that would have held Nissan and Infiniti products and displays will be used for a lounge and gallery for the black tie charity preview. During the public and media show days, the area will be used for a Bertone exhibit, a College for Creative Studies display and additional space for Kia.
01/06, 10:30 AM
posted by:
planet_drive
I think this is a smart move for Nissan. Why would you want to showcase your products in miserable 3rd world city like Detroit?? Also the Detroit autoshow is a joke when compared to LA, Tokyo, Paris, Geneva shows. So this makes Nissan the 8th automaker to not show their products at Detroit? If you want to know what America will look like in 15 years, just take a visit to Detroit, but make sure you wear a bullet proof vest!
01/06, 11:07 AM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
For years the Detroit Auto Show has tried to be the Crown Joule of the U.S. Auto Market, they even went as far as to move the date to be the same time as L.A. Auto Show 3 years ago, and L.A. moved it to Thanksgiving week, that’s way better, it gives you a brake from the Holiday mayhem.
The sad thing is that now that the Detroit Auto Show is the “U.S. Primer Auto Show” for the world to see, it really reflects how this are, that they are F-ed Up!!!
01/06, 11:48 AM
posted by:
Borat
I think Detroit show should move to our Capital (D.C.) just like all other government sponsored venues.
01/06, 11:58 AM
posted by:
RaineMan
So… the Detroit auto show has been officially renamed the Bailout Auto Show. Come see the newest in government sponsored automobiles available from Government Motors. Only available in red, white, or blue!
01/06, 12:21 PM
posted by:
sj79
the detroit show is still the biggest in America based on debuts and media coverage you idiots. It has nothing to do with the niceness of the city of Detroit. This is a stupid move by Nissan and it shows they only care about markets like California. Considering Californias collapsiing housing market and debt levels I dont think Toyota and Nissan and Honda can count on that state to keep them in business as it has for the last 30 years. Without California the Japanese automakers would be far less successful.
01/06, 3:17 PM
posted by:
Borat
Well, so far Nissan is not requiring Japanese government bailout to keep factories open. It is true, coastal states are much better and richer markets: population has more disposable income.
01/06, 5:38 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Why no dealers allowed to bring their product? Here in the STL, the dealers have always been the ones to host and man the shows, with some, but not much, manufacturer support. It’s not as big, but still holds it’s own and it’s a shame they wouldn’t let the same be done in Detroit.
01/06, 9:10 PM
posted by:
DrFill
Maybe they can make it a street fair?
Shoot the clown.
Win a Kia?
DrFill
01/06, 11:41 PM
posted by:
Impulsive
Thank the Lord … everyone is being saved from the sight of these newly-designed rejects. Keep them hidden as long as possible … I don’t want my roads littered with these horribly-designed eyesores.
I suppose they did the right thing by bringing out these disasters now while the economy tanks and nobody wants them anyway … hopefully by ‘12 and ‘13 we’ll get acceptable aesthetics.
01/07, 9:55 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
They probably backed out because there are no Sushi restaurants in Detroit. They’ll starve if they show up.
01/07, 2:45 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
I’ve got to go to this thing.
What’s the opposite of “stoked?”
planet_drive: I think NAIAS is on the way out.
sj79: “Without California the Japanese automakers would be far less successful.” True.
Borat: “coastal states are much better and richer markets: population has more disposable income.” and a disproportionate number of import-lovers.
Need more oil for GM: “They probably backed out because there are no Sushi restaurants in Detroit. They’ll starve if they show up.”
That’s damn racist!