Detroit Auto Show Attendance Declines as Its Glory Days Dwindle | Carscoops

      Attendance numbers have decreased by almost 500,000 individuals in under ten years.

      

      The Detroit Auto Show drew only 275,000 attendees last month, marking a decline of nearly half a million over the past six years.

      The 2025 showcase was underwhelming, featuring little aside from two new Ford models.

      Once an unmissable event, the Detroit Auto Show's return was hardly noteworthy. The Ford Mustang RTR and Mustang GTD Spirit of America were unveiled prior to the show, leaving the North American Car, Utility, and Truck of the Year Awards as the sole highlights on media day.

      Clearly, it didn’t warrant attending, and we openly wondered if the Detroit Auto Show was on its last legs. Today's responses leave no doubt; it's time to revive an event that appears to be in critical condition.

      While the organizers attempted to present a positive outlook, the attendance figures are disheartening. Over a span of 11 days, only 275,000 individuals came through the doors. As noted by The Detroit Free Press, this is significantly lower compared to the 774,179 attendees in 2019.

      This shocking drop is compounded by the fact that attendance numbers during the COVID pandemic were not disclosed, making it difficult to gauge the impact of a lackluster lineup and the return to a January schedule.

      Despite the poor turnout, organizers claimed it was “one of the largest auto shows in the U.S.” However, the statistics are not particularly impressive, with the show narrowly surpassing the 2024 Chicago Auto Show, which ran for just 10 days and attracted approximately 260,000 visitors.

      This disappointing turnout was not unexpected as many automakers have deemed Detroit not worth their time and resources. Consequently, dealers, four indoor tracks, and an assortment of unrelated exhibitors—including the Army, Marines, and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency—filled in the gaps at Huntington Place.

      Officials maintained that the show had a “true energy” and a “robust lineup of vehicles,” which felt somewhat disingenuous. Nevertheless, the event was said to have an estimated economic impact of up to $370 million.

      Organizers also mentioned showcasing 34 brands and nearly 500 vehicles. However, this figure seems to include over 150 modified, personal vehicles presented in collaboration with Modded Detroit.

      While it might be tempting to dismiss the show as an overall failure, the Charity Preview managed to raise $1.7 million for six children's charities. That is certainly positive news, but the outlook for the show remains dim if conditions do not improve.