North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) Highlights Mobility for The Family

The Detroit Auto Show is one of the most influential annual automotive events in the world and its where emerging technologies are showcased. If you grew up attending the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), you are never prepared for the following year but, this year left you amazed in a new and different way. The future of the past, will one day become the present and that time is now!

As you stepped onto the main show floor you learned about the new technology that is being placed into cars, SUVs, trucks and even campers for the entire family. Yes, mobility, mobility, mobility was the theme for the 2023 Detroit Auto Show but that's not all.

There was an exciting lineup of 35 brands, this year! Everything from A to V, the curator of the (NAIAS) made sure to include a mix of vehicles from auto manufactures and their regions, as well as, dealers from around Metro Detroit. If you had attended as car enthusiast or you were there as a lover of technology, you were not disappointed.

It was lights, camera, action, and showtime! Now the time had come for you to find your next vehicle! Families, began heading to their favorite brands, they noticed that each manufacture had the latest and greatest in technology. Personally, some of my favorites, in no particular order were, the Land Rover Discovery and Defender, Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Wrangler, GM Suburban, the GMC Yukon Denali and Acadia. It was a wise decision that as you were leaving out the door to head downtown, that you gave yourself plenty of time. Rushing was not an option. To take the time to step inside that SUV was a life wowing moment! Seating space, comfortability, Wi-Fi, infotainment and now the new ways of getting into the 3rd row were incredible. It truly left you speechless, how manufacturers are these systems inside the vehicles. As a father and a family man, the experience of the Detroit Auto Show, had time standing still, so you thought. Before you knew it, hours had past and you were running out of time! But there's more!

Remember, the theme for this year is Mobility but, what exactly does it mean? When automaker experts talk about mobility, they are referring to the way that we get around and our means of conveyance. More specifically, it's the way we get around and travel throughout familiar environments, our communities, our cities, and our daily commutes.

Brands like BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, Tesla and Volkswagen came to the (NAIAS) to showcase their EV Brands. What I was not prepared for was the intense long lines and the signing of waivers in order to experience the EV Track! In case you aren't familiar with the terminology, according to the Department of Energy, an EV is defined as "a vehicle that can be powered by electric motor that draws electricity from a battery and is capable of being charged by an external source." In case you were wondering, yes, EVs are still capable of having the fast speed off take off as though had a motor and engine. However, I wasn't prepared, but the driver's seat was left up to the professionals. Unfortunately, the only way you and I will be able to experience the driver's seat, is by stopping by your local Metro Detroit auto dealer.

In addition to all the cars, tracks and food stands, the Detroit Auto Show was very inclusive of families. If you have that is interested in technology and mobility, there were in-state colleges and universities that were represented from all over. Representatives, who were present had the level of knowledge that allowed them to speak about their college and university technology programs. There wasn't enough time to learn it all but, the students that were present really made you think about heading back to the classroom to obtain a new degree.

During Tech Day, the URC (University Research Corridor) brought groundbreaking research to the (NAIAS). The alliance that consists of Michigan State University (MSU), the University of Michigan (U-M) and Wayne State University (WSU)highlighted how universities are national leaders in mobility, during their panel talk. The experts of the (URC), say that they are preparing students who will define the next generation of the mobility industry. Did you know that the state of Michigan continues to be the lead of the car industry, now in the capacity of graduating high demand degrees in mobility. URC representative, Andie Poole said, "As a state, these schools graduate about 15,000 of high demand degrees. We graduate those that are in high demand for mobility." Degrees in business, computer science and engineering are the ones that are high in demand!

There's no other car show around that brings the people out from across the country. When it comes to the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), it is that unique. The people and the vibes are everything. So much so that even celebrities come from in and out of town to partake in the festivities. This year's charity preview lineup of celebrity singers was Grammy Award-winning reggae icon Shaggy and the EGOT Award-Winner, the legend herself, Miss Jennifer Hudson.

The black-tie event over the last 25 years has raised more than $100 million for children's charities in Southeastern Michigan. In total, more than $123 million dollars have been raised since its inception in 1976. This year's beneficiaries were: Boys& Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, The Children's Center, The Children's Foundation, Detroit Auto Dealers Association Charitable Fund, a fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Detroit PAL and the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.

Next year, you don't want to miss the opportunity to attend The Detroit Auto Show. Trust me, it's always a good time. Take your entire family and create lasting memories,then you'll understand what the buzz is about!