Detroit's annual automotive showcase has been forced to adapt once more because of COVID-19.
The Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA), which has operated the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) for over a century, announced Monday that due to continued uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, the show will not be held at the TCF Centre for the second year in a row.
The Detroit Free Press reported that the show will temporarily relocate to the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, which consists of a race track and a collection of luxury garages. The all-outdoor event will be dubbed "Motor Bella".
The entire show will run from September 21 to September 26, with the first two days set aside for media and industry previews. The DADA says a charity initiative, similar to the star-studded charity preview that traditionally took place the night before the public show opened, will also be part of the program.
"The pandemic has caused changes in our society and world in ways not previously imagined, and we all should be looking for new and highly creative ways of doing business," said DADA Executive Director Rod Alberts. "This new event captures that creative spirit. It will provide new mobility experiences and increasingly innovative approaches to tapping into the industry and its products."
The M1 Concourse will have room for about 1.6-million square feet of space for high-tech displays, as well as outdoor terrain for the display of vehicles with off-road capability.
Last year's show had originally been scheduled to be moved from January to the summer, and include expansion to outdoor exhibit space in and around the TCF Centre. The COVID-19 outbreak forced the cancellation of that show also.
Event chairman Doug North said that Motor Bella will represent a transition to the next era of the NAIAS.
"We see this outdoor experience at M1 as a bridge to the future. One that will continue to evolve as we explore new ways of presenting mobility and as we navigate through these unprecedented times. We are very cognizant of the importance and impact our show and our events have on the state and the entire metro Detroit area. This will always be part of our considerations for the future."