Dispatch from the North American International Auto Show

I just spent the day at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. Today was the first of two press days, when the manufacturers reveal their new products, concept vehicles and programs to the media in advance of the public days. Detroit is the hub of auto manufacturing in the United States, and the NAIAS is the most important auto show of the season in North America. This is my first trip to the show -- I'm being hosted by General Motors' Social Media department, which has resulted in amazing access to the corridors of power at GM. This morning began with an intimate breakfast/Q&A session focusing on diversity, with Rod Gillum, VP Corporate Responsibility & Diversity and Ray Young, Executive VP & CFO. Mr. Young has been at the forefront of the negotiations with Congress over the GM bailout/loan, but he was attending this session because he's a Canadian citizen with Chinese immigrant parents, the highest ranking executive of Asian descent in the company. I was left with a very positive impression of GM's efforts for diversity within the executive ranks, and of their outreach to a diverse group of consumers.

Then, over to Cobo Hall for the Auto Show. There was a big press conference/pep rally by GM this morning, where they revealed two redesigned crossover vehicles: the Chevrolet Equinox and the Cadillac SRX. We also got to see a concept SUV, the Orlando, which is slated for production in 2011. That's a picture of GM North America President Troy Clarke onstage with the Orlando during the ceremonies this morning. (There was also a bunch of car stuff, like the Chevy Volt, the Jump and the Converj, but we really care about the SUVs, right?)

After the ceremony, I had one-on-one interviews with several designers and engineers from the GM crossovers team: Ron Asleton, Design Manager for Equinox; Bob Reuter, Global Chief Engineer for Compact Crossovers; Scott Wassell, Design Manager for SRX; Deb Lund, Vehicle Line Director for SRX; and Lyndon Schneider, Vehicle Chief Engineer for SRX. I got a ton of great information from these interviews, and will be putting together articles about the design and engineering process in the near future.

Next, I participated in a small group interview with Rick Wagoner, GM's CEO in a conference room with ten other journalists. Wagoner was relaxed and down-to-earth, very positive about GM's future and a very good salesman for his plan. I'd buy a car from this man -- which is a good thing.

After some time on the show floor photographing vehicles from other makers, it was back to GM for another small group interview, this one with GMNA President Troy Clarke. Clarke repeated the refrain that I was to hear many times this day -- GM's plan for the future rests on product. The way to turn negative misperceptions about General Motors around is by building better cars, and that's the commitment that they've made.

More time on the floor, then back to the hotel for a dinner with the GM Social Media folks and another group of subject matter experts on Equinox and SRX.

Now I'm back at my hotel room, getting ready for some rest so I can do it all over again tomorrow. I've got a one-on-one interview with Jim Taylor, HUMMER's CEO, and a few others yet to be scheduled. I'm also going to spend more time on the show floor, exploring other brands and photographing as many new SUVs as I can find.

Whew! Check back here for more information later.

Photo © Jason Fogelson