Detroit Auto Show Ponders Move to October

The Detroit auto show says it is studying the merits of moving its annual event from mid-January to October sometime after 2019.

An autumn time slot for the show—considered one of the world’s five most important of its kind in terms of media coverage—would enable outdoor demonstrations of such advanced technologies as connected and self-driving cars. That option is increasingly important for the show, whose Automobili-D tech expo has expanded significantly since its debut last year.

The move also would create a longer time gap between the event and CES, the electronics show in Las Vegas that ends just days before Detroit’s preview week begins. Carmakers have been using CES as a separate forum in which to announce new electronic features.​​​​​