Detroit Auto Show opens as industry pares back splashy debuts and leans on test tracks
January 13, 2026
The Detroit Auto Show returns this week. The annual show offers an opportunity to take a peek at the cars of today and tomorrow and also go for a spin. More than 40 vehicle brands will be on display. Last year, attendees took 100,000 rides. The show begins Tuesday evening with vehicle announcements from Ford. It opens to the public Saturday and runs through the following Sunday. The show was once a major platform for vehicle debuts. Automakers now feel new models can make a bigger splash when they’re unveiled to a digital audience on a day when they don’t have to share the spotlight with rivals.