Car Show Update From Larry Nutson
Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy
Executive Producer and Chicago Bureau Chief
The Auto Channel
Chicago March 29, 2020; The 2020 Detroit show scheduled for June is cancelled, and not rescheduled.
FEMA is taking over the TCF Center (formerly Cobo) for 6 months to set up a field hospital to handle Covid-19 patients. So the next Detroit show will be June 2021.....2.5 years since the last auto show in Detroit in January 2019.
Detroit auto show canceled as TCF Center chosen for field hospital in coronavirus fight
The 2020 NYAS has been rescheduled from April to late August. However, Javits Center is now a field hospital. Will it still be in late August?
Dallas and Denver shows are being rescheduled.
The next big U.S. show, that seems safe at the moment, is LA on Nov 20-29. Before that, the Paris show opens Oct 1.
FYI, we at MAMA are working with an automaker to do a live stream product briefing to our members. We usually host in-person luncheon product briefings in Chicago. This will be the new way for now.
BTW, we are rescheduling the MAMA Spring Rally from May to Oct. Formal announcement coming by Monday.
And together with all these cancellations and rescheduling, auto sales totals for the year will drop a couple million to 14-15 million and correspondingly, budgets will be cut and perhaps even headcount reductions of salary personnel.
Other than that, I am well, my family is well. I hope you and your families are all well.
Be careful. Be safe.
Kind regards, Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy Executive Producer, Chicago Bureau Chief The Auto Channel