Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS)

The North American International Auto Show (previously called the Detroit Auto Show and often abbreviated NAIAS) is an annual automobile show (or auto show) that occurs every year in Detroit, Michigan. The first auto show occurred in Detroit in 1907 at Beller's Beer Garden at Riverside Park and has been held every year except 1943-1952. It was renamed the North American International Auto Show in 1989. Since 1965, it has been held at Cobo Center where it occupies 1 million square feet (93,000 m²) of floor space. The show is particularly important because Detroit is the location of the headquarters of the Big Three American automakers, Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors.

The show begins with press preview days, industry preview days and a charity preview event. The charity preview raises money for local children's charities. In 2004 and 2005, the charity preview attracted 17,500 people at $400 a ticket and raised $7 million in total. 2006 was the sixth consecutive year the charity preview event raised over $6 million. 35,711 tickets were sold for the industry preview representing people from 24 countries in 2005 and 6,897 credentialed press from 63 countries. Over 800,000 attended during the days the show was open to the general public in 2004. It is estimated that the show provides over $500 million to the local economy.

The NAIAS was long the only auto show in the United States sanctioned by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles. Starting with the 2006 season, however, the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show will also be recognized.

Hot on the heels of the Los Angeles auto show, Detroit's exclusive debuts kept journalists busy during those, as every moment was jam-packed with information and sneak peeks into automotive technology that will keep enthusiasts yearning to put that the next hot vehicle in their driveway. More than 50 vehicles were revealed at the Detroit (NAIAS) Auto Show, including stunners from Audi, BMW, and Lamborghini, to Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, and Volvo, all of them unveiling tempting types of transportation certain to drive buyers to the dealerships in anticipation.

Industry days allowed automotive insiders a sneak peek on Wednesday and Thursday, with the doors finally opening to the public on Friday, January 13. Join us here as we share the sights, sounds, and news from more than 35 press conferences. OUr coverage includes nearly 50 Flash-based slideshows on the vehicles there and more than a dozen detailed photo galleries are available.

Coverage is winding down, but videos are still being added to the associated video collection, so check back to see what multimedia surprises are are yet to arrive.

The Detroit Auto Show is the biggest and best of the American auto shows that take place across the country each year. It's a time when more than 45 auto manufacturers display more than 700 vehicles, including at least 60 never-before-seen models.

So what's hot for this year? Think small, fuel efficient and, in many cases, downright cheap. Auto makers clearly heard the message that consumers were feeling pain at the pump.