North American International Auto Show 2018: U.S. OEMs

Automakers focus on pickup truck and SUV segments due to regional demand

2018/02/09

Summary
Ford Ranger returns to North America, Edge refresh continues SUV momentum
GM shows functionality with Silverado, performance with Corvette, and luxury with Avenir
FCA highlights Ram 1500 pickup, showcases Jeep SUVs with Cherokee and Wrangler

Summary

　The 2018 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) was held from January 14 through January 28, 2018, with the show opening to the public on January 20. In 2018, the show hosted a total of 809,161 attendees, representing both a slight increase over attendance in 2017 and the fifth consecutive year in which it surpassed the 800,000 visitor milestone.

　Continuing the regional growth in demand for larger vehicles over sedans and hatchbacks, U.S. automakers focused on pickup trucks and utility vehicles. Having announced the return of the Ford Ranger at the 2017 NAIAS, Ford unveiled the highly anticipated mid-size pickup truck at its press conference. In turn, the other two Big Three automakers also debuted pickup trucks. Alan Batey, President of GM North America, described the debuting 2019 Chevrolet Silverado as the, "arguably most important product in the Chevrolet portfolio". FCA US showcased the new 2019 Ram 1500, highlighting improvements in the chassis and interior.


Ford's exhibition hall	Ford Ranger

　This report is the first of three reports which focuses on the vehicles displayed at the 2018 North American International Auto Show. This report will focus on vehicles showcased by U.S. OEMs, specifically Ford, GM, and FCA. Reports featuring models from European and Asian automakers will be released at a later date.

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