Detroit, Michigan – There’s no way to sugarcoat this, the 2018 edition of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) was the least significant since 2009.
That show, at the height of the Great Recession, featured automakers begging for federal bailouts, a handful of concept cars that had been completed before development budgets evaporated, and a concept version of what would become the Lincoln MKC crossover.
The industry is in much better shape in 2018, but due to some oddities in development cycles, only a handful of new cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles are going to be released this year. And the few vehicles that are entering the market are either updates of existing vehicles (Ram 1500, Chevy Silverado, Volkswagen Jetta, Toyota Avalon), small crossovers (BMW X2, Acura RDX), or design exercises that will never hit the road (Nissan Xmotion, Lexus LF1).
Several automakers including Mazda and Jaguar skipped the show altogether, and others had displays but didn’t bother with press conferences because they had nothing new to show. By noon on Monday, every major product launch that was to take place had been completed. So, the final day of the show had only one vehicle of mass interest debut.
The 2019 Jeep Cherokee doesn’t really count as a product launch. Far from a complete redesign of the vehicle, it’ a mid-cycle update of a popular SUV. But in the context of the lackluster 2018 show, it counts as major news.
In addition to some minor styling updates, the 2019 model gets a composite rear liftgate, shaving some weight compared to the metal version. It will also get a 2L, 4-cylinder diesel engine capable of 270hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.
Available to buyers by the end of March, the updated Jeep should be well positioned in the market, given the current trend away from cars.
While there were few new vehicles launched, the show did show some advances in technology, especially in electric and autonomous vehicles. However, most of that technology had already been unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier in January.
About the author: Robert Schoenberger is the editor of Today’s Motor Vehicles and a contributor to Today’s Medical Developments and Aerospace Manufacturing and Design. He has written about the automotive industry for more than 17 years at The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio; The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky; and The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Mississippi.