2025 Detroit Auto Show: Safety measures in play for two busy weekends
DETROIT (FOX 2) - Like the vehicles in the showroom, the Detroit Auto Show will have many moving parts to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible for visitors, including safety.
Law enforcement agencies and the trauma unit at DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital are prepared for any emergencies that could occur during the double weekend event.
Chief of Staff Dr. Roy Elrod says during their busiest times at Detroit Receiving, the new CT scan makes a major difference.
If needed, he says the machine will help make operations more efficient in case of emergencies during the auto show.
The precautions come one week after the New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans, which placed a heightened awareness of events across the country, including the Detroit Auto Show, as well as the upcoming Lions playoff games at Ford Field.
During the show, the hospital will increase staff in the building and in the field.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office will also boost its presence during the next two weekends. Sheriff Raphael Washington says volunteer and reserve officers will be called upon.
The goal is to provide peace of mind.
While law enforcement and medical staff can rely on the experience of hosting big events in Detroit, Elrod says he’s always open to learning something new in each situation.
Here is what you can expect at the Detroit Auto Show:
The 2025 auto show will focus on behind-the-wheel experiences, especially with electric vehicles.
Sam Klement is the co-executive director of the 2025 Detroit Auto Show. He expects the event to pump several hundred million dollars into Detroit’s economy.
"You’ll see the newest models, the 2025s, the 2026s, but then it’s very experiential," said Klement. "We have four different ride and drive tracks. More than 40 different vehicles that people can actually get in and ride. They could see the technology on the dashboard."
The second weekend of the show will get an added boost because the Detroit Lions will host a playoff game at nearby Ford Field.
How will the auto show impact business in Detroit?
Some of the businesses that will feel the immediate impact of the auto show are the hotels across the street. FOX 2 spoke with the Fort Pontchartrain, who said the rooms are going quickly this weekend and the following weekend for the auto show and Detroit Lions home playoff game.
Prices of the available rooms range from $300 to $700 for hotels in the area.
Glenn Stevens is the executive director of MichAuto, who says the auto show has generated billions of dollars for the region.
"The eyes are on Detroit. People say what’s going on there? I want to be here. I might want to move my startup there; my business here," said Stevens. "So, it’s good for us."
These next two weeks are a prime opportunity to keep Detroit in the forefront of the national and international conversation.
The auto show will open to the public on Saturday.