First Weekend for NAIAS Draws Hundreds of Thousands to Detroit

Large crowds in Detroit

NAIAS was a magnet for 208,327 people on opening weekend – all wanting to get a glimpse of the more than 700 vehicles on display and the over 50 vehicles that debuted earlier in the week at Press Preview. Attendees experienced a show floor that has undergone a remarkable 70 percent transformation, and they interacted with new exhibits that totaled more than $200 million in investment from exhibitors.

Attendance for Saturday’s kick-off to public days was 107,303, while the second day of opening weekend on Sunday saw 101,024 auto enthusiasts and families visit NAIAS.

The opening of the public show followed a jam-packed Preview Week where 5,068 credentialed journalists from 60 different countries witnessed 57 vehicle introductions at the auto show. Eager to see the new, brand-defining vehicles were 39,000 engineers, designers and analysts who attended Industry Preview

“The significant news created from the global debuts and breathtaking exhibits contributed to the strong weekend of attendance," said Paul Sabatini, 2016 NAIAS Chairman.

NAIAS was trending throughout opening weekend as countless photos and posts appeared on social media as attendees experienced a wide range of exciting products, which included everything from the new technology-packed Chrysler Pacifica minivan, to the performance-driven Lexus LC 500, to the luxurious Lincoln Continental.

“Between the amazing product on display and the interactive exhibits, crowds packed Cobo Center halls this weekend," said Sabatini. “I truly love walking the show floor and watching everyone snapping photos and engaging with the brands."

Sabatini said large crowds are also expected today, Martin Luther King Day.

Prior to attending the 2016 NAIAS, attendees are encouraged to view and download the auto show’s “Suite of Apps." In addition, with all of the amazing photo opportunities at the show, NAIAS has partnered with MLive on a new 2016 NAIAS Photo Contest that gives auto show attendees the opportunity to share their favorite shots from the show using hashtag #NAIAS, for a chance to win an exciting array of Bose products.