Lincoln Sports Utility Vehicles

The auto show circuit kicked off in 2010 as it does every January – with a huge exhibition of current models, concept cars and futuristic designs at Detroit's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The Los Angeles Auto Show in November actually precedes Detroit's, but the lion's share of introductions and unveilings happen in the Motor City.

Dealers Drive First Car Shows

Car dealers organized the first Detroit Auto Show in 1907 the same year they converged as the Detroit Area Dealers Association (DADA). These early shows concentrated primarily on revving up sales during the winter months.

That first show was held in the tight confines of a beer garden at Riverview Park, informally known at the time as "Detroit's Coney Island." In fact, one dealer declined to participate in the event because he didn't think their business should be associated with a beer hall, according to the book The First Century of the Detroit Auto Show by Robert Szudarek.