Detroit auto show might be moved to June for 2020

DETROIT (WJBK) - A big change could be coming for one of Detroit's biggest attractions. 

The North American International Auto Show is usually held at Cobo Center in the winter but it may be moving to June for 2020. It is not completely confirmed, "when” the North American International Show will take place in 2020.  We do know, it's not going to be in January anymore.  

"The auto show people have been thinking about reinventing it for a while," said Jeff Gilbert, auto analyst, WWJ 950.

In recent years, various brands of cars didn't even make it to Detroit, like Mercedes.

"Auto shows are expensive so the car companies are thinking how they're going to better use their money," Gilbert said.

Another reason to ditch January, it's cold. 

"There's not much you can do outside of Cobo in January," said Gilbert. "Downtown Detroit has come back and they want to make downtown Detroit part of the show. For a while, they have been talking about October, then June has crept into the picture. Now it kind of looks like they have settled on June."

And a spokesperson for the auto show as well as the Detroit Auto Dealers Association says:

"Our goal is to provide a global platform for participating automakers, suppliers and brands to engage with media, industry members and consumers alike. Moving from January will allow for outdoor experiential activations that will allow attendees to better engage with the new vehicles and technologies on display."

And in June you can do a lot of outdoor experimental activations could be writing an autonomous car, or taking a game at Comerica Park, or doing a reveal at Ford Field.

A final decision on when the auto show will take place and in what direction it will take, will be made on July 24th. 

"It would also make the auto show the center of a number of automotive events," Gilbert said.