President Barack Obama visited the North American International Auto Show, aka NAIAS, today in a carefully scripted appearance. This was Obama’s first visit to NAIAS, touring the floor with show Chairman Paul Sabatini and UAW President Dennis Williams, both of whom were notably absent during media preview days last week when thousands of media were working the show during press days.
Prior to his calculated photo op, President Obama met privately with Sabatini, NAIAS Co-Chair Sam Slaughter and the auto show’s Executive Director Rod Alberts, who also was invisible at the show last week – as they all blew off the opening night reception hosted by the Automotive Press Association.
President Obama is one of three U.S. Presidents to visit the auto show in Detroit. Bill Clinton visited NAIAS in 1999 and Dwight Eisenhower toured the then Detroit Auto Show in 1960. Over the years, a large number of government officials from White House Cabinet members, U.S. Congressional members, United Nations delegates and officials from nations around the world have attended the show in Detroit.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
