North American International Auto Show 2017: Asian OEMs

Situational considerations a driving force behind changes in new models and concepts

2017/02/13

Summary

 The 2017 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) was held from January 9 through January 22, 2017, with the show being open to the public starting January 14. The show had a total attendance of 806,554 visitors. Despite the slight decrease in attendance compared to 2016, 2017 was the fourth consecutive year in which the exhibition surpassed 800,000 visitors.

 As with all automakers attending the 2017 North American International Auto Show, Asian OEMs spent time highlighting their commitment to the development of the U.S. market. Toyota announced that it would invest USD 10 billion in the U.S. through 2022. Honda stated that 96% of its vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2016 were made in North America, and highlighted the introduction of a new ten-speed transmission built in Tallapoosa, Georgia for future models. Nissan confirmed that it produced over one million vehicles in the U.S. in 2016 and had invested USD 11 billion in U.S. manufacturing since 1981. Shortly after the auto show, Hyundai-Kia made an announcement stating that they would invest USD 3.1 billion in the U.S. over the next five years. GAC, despite focusing primarily on the Chinese market, announced that they would establish a research and development facility in Silicon Valley in 2017.

 Asian OEMs showed a number of concepts in Detroit, including the Lexus UX, Nissan Vmotion 2.0, Infiniti QX50 and the GAC EnSpirit, all of which featured styling themes with future production model applications. Furthermore, the production models on display from Asian OEMs shared a focus on the U.S. market. For example, the new Toyota Camry features a new sporty grille not typically associated with the brand to appeal to a broader audience. The Honda Odyssey emphasizes connectivity technologies to improve passenger interaction in the vehicle. GAC’s showings consisted of SUVs and crossovers, signaling of an eventual entrance into the U.S. market. The Nissan Rogue Sport looks to capitalize on the U.S. compact crossover market. Kia’s Stinger demonstrated its willingness to enter a segment traditionally led by European automakers.

 This report is the third of three reports which focus on the vehicles displayed at the 2017 North American International Auto Show. This report will focus on key vehicles shown by Asian OEMs, including Toyota, Nissan, GAC, Kia and Honda. Reports of key models shown by U.S. and European OEMs have already been released.

Related reports:
North American International Auto Show 2017
U.S. automakers conservative in reveals, focus on popular segments
European OEMs: Diverse offerings highlight blend of traditional strengths with focus on U.S. market

Toyota Camry XSE Trim
Toyota Camry XSE Trim
Kia Stinger
Kia Stinger
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