Weekly auto agenda: Detroit Auto Show

(NAIAS)

This week sees the start of the enormous North American International Auto Show, one of the main events of the years for automakers to launch new products. Held in Detroit, America's capital of carmaking, the show is expected to attract over three quarters of a million visitors during its run.

23rd North American International Auto Show
January 10-23
Detroit, Michigan, US

NAIAS is the biggest event on the North American motoring calendar and draws visitors and exhibitors from all over the world. With Detroit looking healthier than it has for a few years now, guests can expect to see a renewed focus on innovation and more aggressive attempts from North American automakers to oust foreign competitors from some of the turf they've grown to occupy.
http://www.naias.com/

North American Car and Truck of the Year Ceremony
January 11
Detroit, Michigan, US

The 2011 edition of these awards is the 18th iteration and will be selected, as always, by a panel of leading automotive journalists from across the US and Canada. This year, electric cars have been included for the first time, and in case you're interested, US automakers have won the car award nine times, European automakers have won four times, Japanese automakers have won three times and a Korean automaker has won once.
http://www.northamericancaroftheyear.org

29th Tokyo Auto Salon
January 14-16
Chiba, Japan

Japan's answer to the massive SEMA enthusiast show in Las Vegas is billed by organizers as the largest such show in the world. With over 600 vehicles in display, it promises to showcase the best of Japan's varied and advanced after-market industry, with live entertainment from top musicians and appearances by well-known drivers.
http://www.e-autosalon.net/tokyo/english/index.php

89th European Motorshow Brussels
Brussels, Belgium
January 15-23

With a focus on light commercial vehicles, recreational vehicles and motorcycles, the European Motorshow Brussels isn't a major show but it could see some new vehicles making their European debuts. Like other shows, attention is expected to be focused on electric vehicles for this, the 89th edition of the event.
http://www.salonauto.be

69th Washington Auto Show
Washington, DC, US
January 28 - February 6

Billed as a show attended by policy-makers, the Washington Auto Show will place a strong emphasis on green vehicles this year. Highlights include the "Advanced Technology SuperHighway", a 65,000-square-foot display housing the latest innovations in safety and sustainability from clean diesel to electric vehicles, and a keynote from GM CEO Dan Akerson.
http://www.washingtonautoshow.com

103rd Chicago Auto Show
Chicago, IL, US
February 11 - 20

The Chicago Auto Show is the longest-running in the US and also one of the largest - exhibition space spans some 121,000 square meters and over 1000 vehicles are traditionally on display. Therefore, there's plenty of room for demonstrations and the show is popular with people looking to purchase, rather than see new debuts.
http://www.chicagoautoshow.com