The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) is one of the most exciting events of the year. Receiving global attention, NAIAS will host 40-50 new vehicle debuts during two Press Preview days on Jan. 12 and 13. Whether you are in town for the show or are watching the coverage online, there is sure to be something that catches your eye.
This year, SMDI is a Premier Sponsor of the NAIAS and will host a casual, conversational space for automotive designers, engineers and media to explore the advantages of today’s advanced high-strength steels. The exhibit will be in the Grand Riverview Ballroom in front of the Michelin Media Center during Press Preview and Industry Preview (Jan. 12-14) and will feature steel’s contribution to some of the world’s lightest, strongest and most fuel-efficient trucks, cars and SUVs.
On Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015 at 2:35 p.m. EST, SMDI will host a press conference to honor the men and women of steel – individuals making an impact in both the industry and community through the use of advanced high-strength steels.
If you are attending the show during press and industry days, we encourage you to visit our exhibit and learn about the various advancements and uses for today’s steels. Our visitors won’t leave empty handed; along with information, you’ll get two tokens to ride the Detroit People Mover , with a stop right inside of Cobo Center (while supplies last).
We’ve kept a close eye on the anticipated NAIAS announcements. Below is a guide to some of the press conferences and vehicles we’re keeping a close eye on:
2016 Chevrolet Volt
7:35 a.m. on January 12
Chevrolet recently gave us a sneak peek of the new Volt during the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and we can’t wait to see more.
Photo courtesy of Chevrolet
The 2015 Chevrolet Volt’s overall structure consists of nearly 80% high-strength, advanced high-strength or ultra-high-strength steel, so we can only imagine what part it will play in the new debut. Another area of note is the Volt’s steel fuel tank which offers a number of design and environmental benefits which you can learn more about from our partners at the Strategic Alliance for Steel Fuel Tanks (SASFT).
2016 Nissan Titan
8:05 a.m. on January 12
Nissan has completely redesigned its truck and we are looking forward to this reveal. Take a look at their recent teaser video below:
2016 Toyota Tacoma
12:50 p.m. on January 12
Toyota has a long history of using steel in their vehicles and we hope that the new Tacoma is no exception. The Tacoma hasn’t been redesigned in 10 years, so it is sure to make a splash. Check out a recent photo of the new mid-size pickup:
Photo courtesy of Toyota
2016 Ram 1500 Pickup
9:15 a.m. on January 13
We haven’t heard much about Ram’s newest pickup aside from their tweet on Dec. 30:
Life’s more fun off the beaten path. An exciting new way to get there is coming soon! #RamRules https://t.co/ucHlnRENwJ
— RamTrucks (@RamTrucks) December 30, 2014
The 2014 Ram is the most fuel-efficient full-size truck currently on the market, so we can’t wait to see how the 2016 version stacks up.
These are just a few of the vehicle announcements that we look forward to at this year’s NAIAS. What announcements are you most excited about?
If you aren’t able to make it to Detroit for NAIAS, you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter for news and information about the show. We further encourage you to join the conversation using #SteelMatters.
