Is it the Beginning of the End for the Detroit Auto Show?

According to a recent report, Mercedes is planning to pull out of the 2019 Detroit Auto Show.

Although the news isn’t official, sources at the German automaker told Automotive News Mercedes-Benz is poised to withdraw from the Detroit Auto Show next year. “We have to look at whether a trade show like Detroit fits with the cadence of our launch calendar and whether there’s a more effective format for our needs,” said the source, who is a senior Mercedes executive close to the plans. The company however, is not ruling out a return in 2020, but it will likely depend on any major debuts planned for early that year.

SEE ALSO: 2018 Detroit Auto Show Coverage

If Mercedes does withdraw from Detroit, it joins a growing list of automakers that have decided to cross the show off its schedule. Mazda, Volvo, Porsche, Jaguar, and Land Rover no longer have a presence at the annual North American International Auto Show, and Mercedes-Benz’s absence would be felt. The automaker traditionally has a rather large display near a high-traffic entrance. This year, it hosted the G-Class unveiling in Detroit with celebrity Arnold Schwarzenegger joining CEO Dieter Zetsche on stage at an event in downtown Detroit.

The executive director of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, Rod Alberts, said that he hasn’t heard about the news yet.

[Source: Automotive News]

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