Kelley Blue Book considers these the big four of American auto shows.
Detroit. The Motor City’s ties to the auto industry make it an obvious spot for one of the United States’ top shows. Also known as the North American International Auto Show, the Detroit auto show, one of the most anticipated in the world, is held annually in downtown Detroit’s Cobo Center in the middle of January. The show features the unveiling of the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards. It is open to the public and is a key event for both American and foreign car makers.
Chicago. Detroit may be the Motor City, but the Windy City hosts the United States’ largest auto show. The Chicago Auto Show has become a popular event for the introduction of larger vehicles, such as sport utilities and pickups. The show, first staged in 1901, is held at the McCormick Place complex each February and is open to the public. The Chicago Automobile Trade Association, the nation’s oldest and largest metropolitan dealer organization, has produced the Chicago Auto Show since 1935.
New York. The New York International Auto Show takes center stage each spring with international and North American auto debuts. The first New York International Automobile Show, the first ever held in North America, took place in 1900. In addition to the show itself, there are nearly 100 individual events, conferences, industry forums, symposiums, award ceremonies, roundtables and parties. Portions of the show, held in the Jacob Javits Convention Center, are open to the public. One of the show’s most anticipated events is the World Car of the Year awards.
Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Auto Show offers a mix of high horsepower vehicles and mass-produced environmentally friendly autos. In other words, it suits the glitz and glamour of Hollywood as well as the eco-friendly California beaches and wildlife areas. The L.A. Auto Show began in 1907 and has continued nearly every year since. It, too, is open to the public. The Los Angeles Convention Center has hosted the show since 1993.
