Hosted at Huntington Place (formerly Cobo Center) since 1965,[2] it is among the largest auto shows in North America, and is widely regarded as one of the automotive industry's most important events.

[3][4] The show is organized by the Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA), and has been held annually in January for much of its recent history.

[8] Since 1965, the show has been held at Huntington Place (formerly Cobo Center),[7] where it occupies nearly 1 million square feet (93,000 m2) of floor space.

[11] Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz were not present at the 2019 edition, following recent absences of other luxury manufacturers like Porsche, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo.

The NAIAS organizers held Motor Bella at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan as a partial replacement, which was an outdoor enthusiast event running from September 21–26.

Executive director Rod Alberts stated that "we cannot ignore the major disruptions caused by the pandemic and the impact it has had on budgets.

[19] The 2025 public show ran from January 11–20, with the media and charity previews held on the 10th,[20] the latter featuring a performance by Flo Rida.

[25] The 2025 show included four test tracks on the show floor: the returning Powering Michigan EV Experience, featuring electric vehicles from BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, and Rivian (in the latter's Detroit Auto Show debut);[24] the new Detroit Grand Prix Track, with electric and gasoline-powered electric vehicles from Buick, Ford, Honda, Mazda, and Volkswagen; and the returning Ford Bronco Built Wild Experience and Camp Jeep off-road courses in their manufacturers' respective exhibits.

[26] Notably, its run coincided with the beginning of the 2023 United Auto Workers strike, which targeted Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, the show's three largest exhibitors.

The UAW held a rally outside Huntington Place on the evening of the charity preview, but did not picket the event or call for a consumer boycott of the show.

[27] Subaru declined to return for the 2023 show,[28] while Honda and Hyundai were represented in exhibits organized by their Detroit-area dealerships.

[37] The 2022 edition featured a redesigned layout, with the main exhibits indoors on the show floor at Huntington Place, and other supporting events outdoors in nearby Hart Plaza.

[38] Stellantis, Ford, General Motors, Toyota, and Subaru were the only automakers with major exhibits on the convention floor, while Volkswagen had a smaller display in the lobby of Huntington Place.

[40] Many non-participating automakers, such as Nissan, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz, were represented by new vehicles on display on the convention floor, but without a branded exhibit.

Ford's track featured an acceleration strip, used to demonstrate the F-150 Lightning, and a large hill, showcasing the Bronco's off-road capabilities.

In lieu, the show's organizers hosted an outdoor event, Motor Bella, at the M-1 Concourse in nearby Pontiac from September 21–26.

[58] At the show, Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen Group announced a global alliance to collaborate on commercial vans and mid-size pickup trucks, and potentially share EV and autonomous vehicle technology in the future.

The Washington Post reported that the fastest cars at the 2018 auto show included the 2019 Acura NSX, the 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody, the 2019 Nissan GT-R, the 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia, and the 2019 Corvette ZR1.

[10][134] The first day saw the debut of models like the Lexus LC 500, the new Pacifica minivan, and an Audi hydrogen concept car.

Chevrolet also displayed five models sold outside the United States: the Onix, Orlando, Sail, Spin, and Trax.

[242] Bryan Herta was presented with the Baby Borg trophy for the 2011 Indianapolis 500 during the show, which coincided with the promotion of the return of the IZOD IndyCar Series to Detroit later in June.

[244] A new "Smarter Living in Michigan" section showcased alternative energy technologies outside of the automotive sector, in addition to an electric vehicle track condensed from its 2010 size.

[254] The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class was announced and shown to invited members of the press, but was not put on public display until the March 2010 Geneva Motor Show.