- 275,000 attendees joined the 11-day automotive celebration
- Economic impact projected up to $370 million
- $1.7 million raised at Charity Preview; 7,000 attendees
- 34 brands and nearly 500 vehicles displayed, including the return of The Gallery
- Nearly 2,000 press and new media from 33 states and 15 countrie
The 2025 Detroit Auto Show roared back to January driven by automotive enthusiasm and a desire for consumer engagement and today announced the 11-day show drew 275,000 attendees, making it one of the largest auto shows in the U.S.
The January show returned with a lineup of 34 brands, four immersive indoor tracks, nearly 500 vehicles, unique activations and Ford Motor Company’s kick-off reveal of a pair of special-edition Mustangs. And for the first time in seven years, The Gallery returned featuring more than 50 ultra-luxury vehicles that drew long lines and jaw-dropping reactions.
“Bringing the Detroit Auto Show back to January felt like coming home; there was a sense of familiarity and community, of being right where we belong,” said Detroit Auto Show Executive Director Sam Klemet. “There was a true energy fueled by the attendees’ excitement of seeing and interacting with over 30 vehicle brands, new activations and fun experiences, which created a momentum that will carry through to the 2026 show.”
“It was great to usher in the return of the January show with such a robust lineup of vehicles and experiences for families to see and enjoy,” said 2025 Detroit Auto Show Chairman Karl Zimmermann. “The show gave consumers the opportunity to ‘shop’ their next new vehicle from a sea of brands and hundreds of cars and trucks all under one roof. In addition, the four tracks provided over 100,000 rides to prospective buyers.”
Ancora Managing Director and Portfolio Manager David Sowerby said the 2025 Detroit Auto Show had an estimated economic impact projected up to $370 million.
“The impact the Detroit Auto Show has had on our remarkable region cannot be overstated — with hundreds of thousands of Detroiters and visitors experiencing the best we have to offer, supporting our economy and dining in our amazing restaurants,” said Claude Molinari, President and CEO of Visit Detroit. “Every year the Detroit Auto Show is one of the most important and influential mobility events in the world, shining a light on the city and creating experiential opportunities with the brands and technologies that define us as the Motor City.”
The show’s signature black-tie Charity Preview and the preeminent annual charity event in Southeast Michigan, drew a remarkable 7,000 attendees, raising $1.7 million for six Southeastern Michigan children’s charities, while bringing the total generated since 1976 to more than $125 million.
The Detroit Auto Show also employed a targeted, focused approach on increased social media engagement for 2025. “Connecting deeper with our audience – whether new or existing followers – is important to help lift even further awareness of brands in the market and the opportunities in the automotive industry, as well as to tell Detroit’s automotive story,” Klemet said.
The Detroit Auto Show put an added focus on engaging with OEMs, consumers, and the media through social media for the 2025 show. The Show reached more than 30 million people via social media platforms and had 7 million video views. And, website traffic to detroitautoshow.com increased 87 percent during the show, compared to the same time frame of the previous show.
In addition to many beloved activities Detroit Auto Show audiences have come to expect, there were new experiences, activities and partnerships dotting the auto show landscape.
New at the 2025 Detroit Auto Show
- The My Drive. My City. My Show.™ award-winning storytelling campaign, launched long before the show doors opened, set the tone for an exciting onsite blend of cars and community and was featured at the event.
- Racing Day presented by the Detroit Grand Prix featured a Detroit Grand Prix-themed and branded track and appearances and rides by top drivers, including two-time Indy 500 Champion Josef Newgarden, in addition to world-class race cars.
- The first-ever partnership with Modded Detroit, one of Michigan’s premier automotive enthusiast groups, showcased 150+ vehicles spotlighting the talent of Metro Detroit’s auto enthusiast community.
- A collaboration with lifestyle brand Hagerty and Vanguard Motors brought show-goers a sampling of some of Hollywood’s most legendary vehicles, in addition to a collection of classic cars in a “Detroit Through the Decades” showcase of vehicles.
- The Future Leaders Forum, presented by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, drew 350-STEM field students from 17 universities and hundreds of Detroit-area high schoolers to Industry Days. Designed to cultivate next-generation talent, the program was a collaborative effort with the State of Michigan, Detroit Auto Show and Engineering Society of Detroit.
- A new partnership with the Michigan Science Center featured STEM activities for young show visitors, including an exclusive area for budding auto enthusiasts to build vehicles.
- The show hosted a special event, “All Roads Lead to Detroit: Celebration of the Detroit Lions at the Detroit Auto Show” rally, heading into the Detroit Lions playoff game at Ford Field. More than 1,200 excited fans attended. The event featured appearances by Detroit Lions alumni and a live concert by Detroit native and Grammy-nominated artist Mike Posner and fellow Detroiter Gmac Cash.
- An inaugural Driven by Service Day honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King in partnership with the Detroit Public Schools Community District. The initiative kicked off with a week-long, onsite clothing drive to benefit students across Detroit Public Schools and was capped off with a program featuring prominent Detroiters and area students. More than 2,200 coats, hats, gloves and scarves were collected.
- The show expanded to Huntington Place’s Grand Riverview Ballroom and Halls D and E, adding 200,000+ square-feet more of exciting vehicle and technology exhibits.
“It was an incredible week-and-a-half in the Motor City, one that gave us an opportunity to show the world Detroit’s unparalleled connection with its cars and community,” Klemet said. “My Drive. My City. My Show. is more than a slogan. It embodies the spirit of the Detroit Auto Show.”
At-a-Glance Overview of 2025 Detroit Auto Show
Attendance
- 275,000 show visitors
- Nearly 2,000 press and new media from 33 states and 15 countries
- Key dignitary visits, including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, as well bipartisan U.S. and Michigan Congressional delegations
- Over 1,600 students of all ages, elementary through college, used the show as a hands-on classroom, a number of which also had a presence at AutoMobili-D, the Future Leaders Forum and the Mobility Global Forum
The Vehicles
- 34 brands, including The Gallery, curated from auto manufacturers, Metro Detroit dealers and owner enthusiast collections
- Showcase of 150+ modified, personal vehicles in partnership with Modded Detroit
- Collection of some of Hollywood’s most legendary vehicles and a “Detroit Through the Decades” showcase of vehicles, displayed in partnership with Hagerty and Vanguard Motors
Four Indoor Tracks
- Over 100,000 rides taken by show-goers on four indoor track activations
- Ford Bronco Built Wild Track
- Camp Jeep
- Detroit Grand Prix-themed track
- Powering Michigan EV Experience track, sponsored by the Powering Michigan team of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and Local 58 and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)
The Gallery
- Made its return with 50 prestigious automobiles representing 12 brands, including Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati, McLaren, Morgan, Porsche and Rolls-Royce
- Curated from Metro Detroit dealerships and owner enthusiast collections, the vehicles represented a $30 million display of some of the most luxury and exotic in the world
Charity Preview
- 7,000 people attended the event, generating $1.7 million for six children’s charities in Southeastern Michigan
- More than $125 million raised since 1976 when the Detroit Auto Dealers Association established Charity Preview
- Special performance by multi-platinum recording artist and hip-hop icon Flo Rida
- Beneficiaries: Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan; The Children’s Center; The Children’s Foundation; Detroit Auto Dealers Association Charitable Foundation Fund, a fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan; Detroit PAL; and University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
- Presented by Auto Hauler Exchange
AutoMobili-D
- Marked its ninth year
- Technology showcase during Industry Days featuring mobility innovations from a variety of global companies, the startup community and a number of universities
- 42 exhibits, including 16 universities
Mobility Global Forum
- Two-day symposium during Industry Days
- 30 panels and fireside chats featuring 94 different speakers on two stages
- Thought leaders included global OEMs, startups, tech companies, industry trade organizations, non-profits and the public sector, as well as university students providing their perspective on the evolving mobility sector
- Presented by Tata Consultancy Services
Future Leaders Forum
- Presented by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification
- Initiative with State of Michigan, Detroit Auto Show and Engineering Society of Detroit to cultivate next-generation talent
- 350 STEM-field students from 17 universities and over 1,300 high school students from Metro Detroit participated
Racing Day presented by Detroit Grand Prix
- A day uniting racing and automotive enthusiasts
- Detroit Grand Prix-themed and branded track
- Appearances made by top stars of motorsports, including IndyCar and Indy 500 Champion Josef Newgarden of Team Penske
- World-class race cars displayed, in addition to world-renowned Borg Warner Trophy
Driven by Service Day
- New day at the show celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy of service held in partnership with Detroit Public Schools Community District
- Initiative kicked off with week-long, onsite clothing drive to benefit Detroit Public Schools students in need
- Over 2,200 warm clothing items (coats, hats, gloves and scarves) collected
- Special Driven by Service Day programming featuring prominent Detroiters and local students
- Nearly 60 community volunteers, including students and alumni from Detroit-area Divine Nine fraternities and sororities and members of Detroit Morehouse College Alumni Association volunteered at Driven by Service Day
ABOUT THE DETROIT AUTO SHOW
Recognized as one of the world’s most influential automotive events, the Detroit Auto Show offers a platform for cutting-edge automotive and mobility innovations. With immersive experiences, brand-defining vehicles, and hands-on activations, the show invites attendees to witness the future of mobility.
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Press Contacts:
Heather George, hgeorge@loviogeorge.com
Steve Blow, steve@loviogeorge.com
