Can L.A. auto show upstage Detroit?

The Detroit News reports:

Los Angeles is out to steal some of Detroit's automotive clout.

When organizers of the L.A. Auto Show moved the event's starting date to next week from its usual timing just days ahead of the North American International Auto Show in January, they hoped to grab some high-profile vehicle debuts and media attention that might otherwise have come to the Motor City.

Los Angeles, home to a plethora of automobile design studios and one of the world's top markets for luxury vehicles, has traditionally been a showcase for import automakers, hot designs and green technologies, but competed with Detroit for the biggest, must-see vehicle debuts. Even with the L.A. show snagging its most first-time offerings from carmakers, however, organizers of the Detroit show and auto industry watchers are confident Motown will remain at the top for automakers.

"Detroit is so much bigger," said Michael Robinet, vice president of CSM Worldwide, an automotive forecasting firm in Farmington Hills.

Still, the new dates for the L.A. show represent a major change on the U.S. auto show circuit, resulting in more media attention, bigger marketing investments by participating automakers and, organizers hope, a boost in stature for the show serving the nation's No. 1 auto market. The show also is now designated an international show.

Heh.