The 2014 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) opened this week at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit with the White House announcing that Vice President Joe Biden will visit the auto industry’s most celebrated event of the year on Thursday, Jan. 16.
In the opening week Ford debuted the aluminum-frame F-150 truck, General Motors won top awards for its Chevy Silverado and Corvette rated by 49 industry journalists, and Chrysler unveiled the 2015 200 Sedan.
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow and Chrysler-Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne were in attendance as the flagship vehicle was unveiled which Chrysler Brand President and CEO Al Gardner described as the new model “that will redefine the brand” during a press conference Monday.
“A lot of people won’t see this coming,” Gardner said while promising that Chrysler had “designed a car to challenge every other car in its segment,” with the aim of trumping the competition.
The new 200 will be available with an all wheel-drive system that features a disconnecting rear axle and what Gardner called “fully automatic, seamless shifting.” The model has sporty features, including paddle shifters and a sport suspension.
Chrysler said it invested more than a billion dollars to overhaul its Sterling Heights plant to build the new 200.
Ford’s F-150 model has been the buzz among some anticipated auto show attendees with company officials saying it will shed as much as 700 pounds compared to the current version.
“That will help the truck to haul more and accelerate more quickly and stop in a shorter time with better fuel economy,” said Raj Nair, Ford’s head of global product development.
The new F-150 will feature exclusive LED headlights and taillights, a size moon roof, 360 degree view exterior camera and what Ford calls “8-inch productivity” screen on the dash for infotainment purposes. Ford executives are hoping sales will soar another 25 percent, noting that the Asia-Pacific region will account for more than one-third of the Ford’s total worldwide sales.
GM’s announcement of the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Chevrolet Silverado selection in the NACTOY awards where the votes were tabulated by Deloitte LLP downtown Detroit offices, underscores its fourth truck and sixth car win for the automaker. The Silverdo won in 2007 and the Corvette won in 1998.
“Chevrolet is in the most aggressive product transformation in the brand’s more than 100-year history,” said Alan Batey, senior vice president of Global Chevrolet. “The Corvette and Silverado truly embody the passion, commitment and focus that is driving us to deliver the most expressive designs, innovative technologies and engaging performance in every vehicle that wears the bowtie.”
GM, an anchor of the NAIAS, just named Mary Barra as CEO, the first woman to lead a major global automaker in history.
Congressman Gary Peters, co-chair of the Congressional Auto Caucus, toured the exhibits of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler and met with executives from GM, Ford and Chrysler, praising auto manufacturers and suppliers on their success over the last five years.
“With U.S. autos having their best sales record in years and Michigan workers helping to build cars that can compete against any in the world, it is incredible to imagine that just five years ago our economy and the auto industry were on the brink of collapse,” Peters said. “The resurgence and success of the U.S. auto industry is a testament to the resiliency of Michigan workers and the passion we have for innovation.”
Peters, a member of the House Financial Services Committee, that was instrumental in securing government loans for the restructuring of GM and Chrysler, said the automakers employ 300,000 more people in direct auto manufacturing jobs than they did in 2009, and directly employ 1.7 million people, and the auto industry as a whole supports over 8 million Americans and their families.
“It has been an honor to have both the Chrysler and GM world headquarters in my district, and the ingenuity and innovation displayed at this year’s auto show is evidence that American workers and engineers are the best in the world,” Peters said. “I was proud to join the big three auto manufacturers to kick off the NAIAS here at Cobo Hall in my district and continue to believe that with smart investments, American manufacturing can create jobs and continue to be the engine of our economic success. I will continue to fight for American autos, American jobs and our middle class.”
On Friday, hundreds of dignitaries will attend the annual Charity Preview at Cobo Center, a major highlight of the show, the proceeds of which go to various charities in metro Detroit. This year the Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) is adding a unique dimension to the Charity Preview afterglow: the Studio 25 After Party, presented by Opportunity Detroit, a campaign by Dan Gibert, Quicken Loans founder and chairman.
Bankole Thompson is the editor of the Michigan Chronicle. E-mail bthompson@michronicle.com.
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