Hemorrhaging Jobs. Anemic Auto Show. Are Cars Still in Detroit’s Blood?

With all the changes, it’s worth asking: Can we still call Detroit, unequivocally, the Motor City?

Jake Neher

The North American international Auto Show (NAIAS) is now open to the public. One thing is becoming clearer than anything else: the auto industry is global in a way it never was before.

The Detroit Three are partnering with foreign automakers they once saw as bitter competition. And many of the Detroit-made cars are built outside of the United States. The number of auto jobs here in southeast Michigan is declining, not growing.

With all the changes, it’s worth asking: Can we still call Detroit, unequivocally, the Motor City?

WDET’s Laura Herberg explored that question in a recent report. You can find that here.

On Detroit Today, Stephen Henderson continues that conversation with guests and listeners. 

Michael Smith is the principal archivist with the Michigan Historical Collections at the University of Michigan’s Bentley Historical Library.

Daniel Howes is a columnist and associate business editor with the Detroit News.

Adrienne Roberts is a reporter covering the auto industry for the Wall Street Journal.

Rory Carroll is the publisher of Autoweek.

Click on the audio player above to hear the full conversation.

Jake Neher

 

Author

  • Detroit Today
    Dynamic and diverse voices. News, politics, community and the issues that define our region. Hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Henderson, Detroit Today brings you fresh and perceptive views weekdays at 9 am and 7 pm.