Beep-beep-mm-beep-beep, yeah!
“Drive My Car” by the Beatles came out the same year as the first-ever Detroit Auto Show, 1965.
Seventy years before that, cars were barely a twinkle in Henry Ford’s eye, and John Philip Sousa and ragtime artists like Dan Quinn vied for the top of the charts. Now, 60 years later, the Auto Show—like music and like the city—has changed dramatically.
But why did cars become such a big Detroit thing in the first place?
In the 1890s, Detroit was not yet a major metropolis, but it was in the center of America’s industrial heartland and had all the major ingredients for explosive growth.
It was close to major centers of coal, iron and copper mining. It was on existing shipping channels across the Great Lakes and further with the opening of the Erie Canal (1824), Soo Locks (1855), and the Welland Canal (later replaced by the St. Lawrence Seaway, our current binational deep waterway, which was first proposed during this same time period).
Detroit was also a nexus for major railway lines between other industrial centers in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and across the country. There were a variety of manufacturing concerns already active in town—stoves, tobacco, drugs and chemicals, metalworking—which meant there was skilled and semi-skilled manufacturing labor and infrastructure that could be readily tapped.
In 1896, Henry Ford test-drove his first automobile on the streets of Detroit—but he wasn’t the first, or only, Michigander tinkering with cars.
The idea of an automated vehicle dates back at least as early as 1649 with Hans Hautsch’s clockwork carriage. Then there were steam engines and electric engines. The first internal combustion engine—what traditional cars have now—came along in 1826. Carl Benz made the first gasoline-powered automobile in 1886 in Germany.
From that point, the wheels really started rolling, with a rapid series of inventions and innovations in both America and Europe. Many familiar car names sprouted in the Detroit area over the next two decades: Oldsmobile, General Motors, Dodge, Packard, Chrysler—and of course, Ford.
The Ford Motor Company was actually Henry Ford’s third attempt at an auto plant. His first only made two cars and then flopped. He abandoned his second after a dispute with his investors (it later turned into Cadillac). It was only in 1903 that he finally successfully launched Ford—and then seven years later in 1910, he moved it to Dearborn (where its new world headquarters are today).
The rest, as they say, is history—but it’s not your Grandpa’s auto show anymore.
You may picture the glitz and glamour and Jetsons-like feel of the future from decades past. Detroit itself, after all, often has a retro-futurist vibe. But the Detroit Auto Show, like the city and like music, has changed a lot. Here are some key things to know.
The Basics
The show runs from January 13-25, 2026 at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit. It is held entirely indoors.
The show kicks off with a display of ultra-luxury and performance vehicles on January 13 from 6:00-9:00 PM. Tickets for this preview experience are pricey, but for a good cause: each ticket sold will benefit Forgotten Harvest.
January 14-15 are “Media and Industry Days.” These are exclusive preview days that offer early access to the show floor, designed to foster networking and collaboration. They include special programming like the Mobility Global Forum and the Future Leaders Forum. Media credentials are required for a media pass, but anyone can pay for an individual Industry pass.
January 16 is the Charity Preview, which is a swanky party and concert. Robin Thicke is headlining this year, and profits from the Preview are always channeled to support selected charities for children. If you can’t make January 16, there is also a DJ Showcase with different DJs scheduled every day.
The public show runs from January 17-25. During this time:
You Can Drive the Cars
There are four indoor tracks that allow for an immersive, firsthand experience. Electric, self-driving, high-performance, you name it, and you can get your hands on it. Free with the price of your ticket.
You Can Meet the Drivers
If you go on Racing Day (January 17) you can meet real live race car drivers, get autographs, and even do a Fan Ride Along.
You Can Comparison Shop Like a Pro
Yes, auto shows are for the latest and greatest, but they also showcase a wide range of cars from various manufacturers. The ability to compare cars side-by-side efficiently is an excellent perk of attending a show—without the pressure of a salesperson trying to close a deal.
Since you can’t buy a car at an auto show, companies send trained representatives to answer questions instead.
You Can See the Future
If you do go during Industry Days, you’ll have the chance to see presentations on new mobility technologies and designs, integration of new tech like AI into real-world mobility solutions, and witness the Automobili-D technology showcase.
Even if you go later during the public show, most years at least one car company launches a new model, and there are lots of new technologies to see and touch.
Make the Most of Your Experience
A few tips to help you maximize your visit:
- The floor plan is enormous. Wear comfortable shoes.
- It is loud. Bring noise-cancelling headphones.
- You can’t bring your own snacks. Be prepared to buy water.
- Ride the People Mover and see more of Detroit. You can board directly from the fourth floor of Huntington Place, without even having to go outside, and the Mover offers a great bird’s eye view of everything happening downtown.
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