Gov. Gretchen Whitmer talks about protecting the US automotive industry
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer talks about protecting the US automotive industry
- The Detroit Auto Show is back in another year of test drives and cool cars.
- The show has been pivoted from its proven position in engineering to customer-centric events.
- Organizers said four major global automakers have confirmed their participation.
The 2026 Detroit Auto Show is preparing to turn the ignition. The show organizers were announced on Tuesday, September 9th, the first four major automakers to attend the 2026 show.
The original Detroit 3 – Ford Motor, General Motors, Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) – and Toyota have confirmed all attendance at the 2026 show at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit. In addition to home appeals from Ford, GM and Stellantis, Toyota is consistently one of the bestselling automotive brands in the US.
The Detroit Auto Show has gone through several iterations, but its participation in the brand has not wavered.
The auto show began in 1899 before the heyday of the automotive industry and bounced back to various parks and fairgrounds in the Detroit area. By 1965, when the business was booming, the show moved to Cobohol (now Huntington Place), where carmakers began to bring their latest products to the show floor and create mega showrooms for potential buyers to see all the options.
As car shows evolved, it became more like a car-themed amusement park rather than an ultra-higher car dealership. The brand began pulling stunts, breaking the news and unveiling flashy concept cars.
In 2025, organizers spoke to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA Today network, and the show will return to a blending approach, fusing consumer focus with automotive experiences such as thrill rides and IndyCar demos.
The Detroit Auto Show will be held from January 14th to 25th. Auto Show organizers said they hope that more brands will take part in order to join Ford, GM, Stellantis and Toyota at the event.
“These four car manufacturers don’t just make cars, they move the market,” said Samcremet, executive director of the Detroit Auto Show. “To have Ford, GM, Stellantis and Toyota at the forefront of 2026 highlight how important Detroit is to the global automotive industry.”
Liam Rappleye covers Stellantis and UAW from Detroit Free Press. Please contact him: lrappleye@freepress.com.
