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The Detroit Auto Show returns to its traditional January timeframe this year, setting the stage for what’s to come in the world of automotive mobility throughout 2025.
Ahead of the event, we sat down with Bernard Swiecki, GEM vice president of mobility and research. Read on to get his insights on the value of the Detroit Auto Show, what it can tell us about the state of the industry and what’s to come, and why it’s an important event for Detroit’s rising mobility industry.
GEM: Thanks for taking the time to speak with us today, Bernard. We’ll get right to it: why is the Detroit Auto Show such an important event for the Detroit region?
Bernard Swiecki: Thanks for having me! I’ve attended plenty of auto shows throughout my career, and the Detroit Auto Show always holds a special place for people in this area. So many people are intricately connected to the automotive industry, working in or adjacent to it in some capacity, and this is an opportunity to see the fruits of their labor. They can point out specific components or cars they worked on to friends and family and take pride in that work. It’s also an opportunity for people like me who are always looking ahead at what’s coming next to see the real-world applications of specific technologies or trends we’re studying.
GEM: Are there any specific technologies you’re looking forward to seeing at the event?
BS: The Automobili-D exhibit is where I really expect to see new technologies coming to life. This is a place for start-ups, universities, suppliers and more to showcase how they are pushing the boundaries of innovation in the automotive industry.
One thing I’m especially interested in seeing is how exhibitors are using AI. A host of new technologies start in the automotive industry and proliferate out into other sectors, and if mobility companies can get AI and machine learning right, they can set up useful pathways for other industries. This is especially important in the Detroit area, where our regional economy is so diverse, yet the technologies at the heart of our economy are intertwined.
And of course, battery-electric vehicles will certainly be a big part of the event – especially with the EV Experience returning this year. OEMs have made significant investments in carbon-reducing technologies over the past few years, so I anticipate those technologies will find their way into displays in other ways, too.
GEM: Which technologies do you think will have a breakout year in 2025?
BS: There are seven advanced mobility technologies I’m keeping a pulse on, and they’re the same ones that were outlined in the Future Mobility Technology Study GEM’s research team completed last September. These technologies are all on long-spectrum timelines, so I don’t anticipate any “breakthrough” moments in 2025. Rather, we’ll see continued development, refinement, and further implementation of these technologies.
For example, I expect to see more OEMs leaning into software-defined vehicles and mobility-related IoT this year – technologies that enable greater customization and next-generation user experiences for consumers. And, as previously mentioned, I anticipate we’ll continue seeing AI-driven technologies used in a variety of ways, from design and manufacturing to driver experience to safety and maintenance.
Hydrogen fuel cells are another great example. This is a technology that has been “around the corner” for decades, but only in the last few years has the industry started to get hyper focused on using fuel cells in heavy trucking and off-road applications. That’s because there are currently greater cost benefits for using fuel cells in those mobility categories.
Note: This is a topic that Christine Roeder, GEM executive vice president, Will Butler, vice president of business development at the Detroit Regional Partnership, and Jason Puscas, chief administrative officer for Bollinger Motors, will discuss during a fireside chat at the Detroit Auto Show on January 16 at 4 p.m.
GEM: Detroit has long been synonymous with the automotive industry, and the Auto Show plays a big part in highlighting Detroit’s leadership in this space. How is Detroit uniquely situated to sustain that legacy while extending its impact to the greater mobility space in the years to come?
BS: Detroit is a special place. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, seasoned investor, or someone simply looking to get involved in the growing mobility industry, people come here because they can get access to the resources they need to succeed. Organizations like GEM are working to enhance access to funding, mentorship, talent development, site selection, and other critical resources.
As they say, a rising tide lifts all ships. That’s why we’re working to create greater levels of connectivity within the mobility industry to ensure everyone can take advantage of the opportunities and advancements in the region.
It’s about much more than throwing money and other incentives at entrepreneurs and executives, like other states do. When people come here and feel it for themselves, they want to be here.
The Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM) is a signature program led by the Detroit Regional Partnership that is designed to create a smart, secure, sustainable, and inclusive advanced-mobility industry in Southeast Michigan, made possible by a four-year U.S. E.D.A. Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant award.
The Detroit Auto Show will take place January 10 – 20, 2025 at Huntington Showplace in Detroit. For more information, visit www.detroitautoshow.com.
Executive Vice President Christine Roeder will join other industry leaders for a Fireside Chat titled ‘The Road Ahead,’ taking place on Wednesday, January 15, at 4 p.m. in the Ballroom Stage.