Over 11 days in January, the 2025 Detroit Auto Show drew 275,000 attendees, making it one of the largest auto shows in the U.S., according to the Detroit Auto Dealers Association in Troy, the official show host.
The show returned after a year hiatus with a lineup of 34 brands, four immersive indoor tracks, nearly 500 vehicles, unique activations, and Ford Motor Company’s kick-off reveal of a pair of special-edition Mustangs.
In addition, for the first time in seven years, The Gallery returned featuring more than 50 ultra-luxury vehicles, including Ferraris, Porsches, a Ford GT, Bentleys, and Lamborghinis.
“Bringing the Detroit Auto Show back to January felt like coming home; there was a sense of familiarity and community, of being right where we belong,” says Sam Klemet, executive director of the Detroit Auto Show. “There was a true energy fueled by the attendees’ excitement of seeing and interacting with over 30 vehicle brands, new activations, and fun experiences, which created a momentum that will carry through to the 2026 show.”
David Sowerby, managing director and portfolio manager at Ancora, an investment services firm in Bloomfield Hills, reports the 2025 Detroit Auto Show had an estimated economic impact of up to $370 million.
The show’s signature black-tie Charity Preview drew 7,000 attendees, raising $1.7 million for six southeastern Michigan children’s charities, while bringing the total generated since 1976 to more than $125 million.
The Detroit Auto Show also employed a targeted, focused approach on increased social media engagement for 2025.
“Connecting deeper with our audience, whether new or existing followers, is important to help lift even further awareness of brands in the market and the opportunities in the automotive industry, as well as to tell Detroit’s automotive story,” Klemet says.
The Detroit Auto Show put an added focus on engaging with OEMs, consumers, and the media through social media for the 2025 show. The show organizers reached more than 30 million people via social media platforms and had 7 million video views. And, website traffic to detroitautoshow.com increased 87 percent during the show, compared to the same time frame of the previous show.
Other highlights included: In addition to many beloved activities Detroit Auto Show audiences have come to expect, there were new experiences, activities and partnerships dotting the auto show landscape.
- Racing Day presented by the Detroit Grand Prix featured a Detroit Grand Prix-themed and branded track and appearances and rides by top drivers, including two-time Indy 500 Champion Josef Newgarden, in addition to world-class race cars.
- The first-ever partnership with Modded Detroit, one of Michigan’s premier automotive enthusiast groups, showcased 150-plus vehicles spotlighting the talent of metro Detroit’s auto enthusiast community.
- A collaboration with lifestyle brand Hagerty and Vanguard Motors brought show-goers a sampling of some of Hollywood’s most legendary vehicles, in addition to a collection of classic cars in a “Detroit Through the Decades” showcase of vehicles.
- The Future Leaders Forum, presented by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, drew 350-STEM field students from 17 universities and hundreds of Detroit-area high schoolers to Industry Days. Designed to cultivate next-generation talent, the program was a collaborative effort with the State of Michigan, Detroit Auto Show, and Engineering Society of Detroit.
- A new partnership with the Michigan Science Center featured STEM activities for young show visitors, including an exclusive area for budding auto enthusiasts to build vehicles.
- The show hosted a special event, “All Roads Lead to Detroit: Celebration of the Detroit Lions at the Detroit Auto Show” rally, heading into the Detroit Lions playoff game at Ford Field. More than 1,200 fans attended. The event featured appearances by Detroit Lions alumni and a live concert by Detroit native and Grammy-nominated artist Mike Posner and fellow Detroiter Gmac Cash.
- An inaugural Driven by Service Day honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King in partnership with the Detroit Public Schools Community District. The initiative kicked off with a week-long, onsite clothing drive to benefit students across Detroit Public Schools and was capped off with a program featuring prominent Detroiters and area students. More than 2,200 coats, hats, gloves and scarves were collected.
- The show expanded to Huntington Place’s Grand Riverview Ballroom and Halls D and E, adding 200,000-plus square-feet more of exciting vehicle and technology exhibits.
Recognized as one of the world’s most influential automotive events, the Detroit Auto Show offers a platform for cutting-edge automotive and mobility innovations. With immersive experiences, brand-defining vehicles, and hands-on activations, the show invites attendees to witness the future of mobility.
For more information, visit https://detroitautoshow.com/.
