Crews hard at work bringing Detroit auto show to life - Detroit Free Press

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The loud sound of forklifts backing up, tractor-trailers parking and people chattering echo inside the large hall at Huntington Place convention center in downtown Detroit. The scene is hanging wires, huge wooden boxes and work crews building ramps and sets in preparation for the flashy cars, bright lights and crowds that will make up the 2022 North American International Auto Show.

Employees work to get the North American International Auto Show up and running inside the Huntington Place convention center in Detroit on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. David Rodriguez Munoz, Detroit Free Press

David DeMario, 67, helps unload large boxes belonging to Ford Motor Co. for the setup of the North American International Auto Show inside the Huntington Place convention center in Detroit on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. David Rodriguez Munoz, Detroit Free Press

Ken Lopata, 57, ironworker Local 25, levels a metal platform for the North American International Auto Show inside the Huntington Place convention center in Detroit on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. David Rodriguez Munoz, Detroit Free Press

The NAIAS, also known as the Detroit auto show, is back after a two-year hiatus. This two-week event brings the world's attention to Detroit and welcomes some of the world’s top car manufacturers.

Up until recently, the auto show was held in January, but the Detroit Automobile Dealers Association (DADA) agreed to move it to the spring, starting in 2020. The pandemic forced another adjustment and the show landed in the fall with the public days running from Sept. 17-25.

Two employees work on the Ford Motor Co. metal ramp to prepare for the North American International Auto Show inside the Huntington Place convention center in Detroit on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. David Rodriguez Munoz, Detroit Free Press

Hanging lights make up the Lincoln display area as workers prepare for the North American International Auto Show inside the Huntington Place convention center in Detroit Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. David Rodriguez Munoz, Detroit Free Press

Local union workers Steve Clifford, 56, left, and Robert Embryo roll a large Jeep display before the 2022 North American International Auto Show inside the Huntington Place convention center in Detroit on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. David Rodriguez Munoz, Detroit Free Press

An employee looks through a toolbox inside the Huntington Place convention center in Detroit on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. David Rodriguez Munoz, Detroit Free Press

With the warmer weather, attendees can expect attractions not only at Huntington Place, but also outside in places like Hart Plaza.

The move from winter to this fall isn’t the only thing that has changed. What used to take about three to four months to complete now takes a matter of weeks, and the workers see a big decrease in job availability. There also has been reduced interest in the show from automakers.

Karl Zimmermann, the show's co-chair, connected the quick turnaround to the setup.

“One of the things identified as we reinvented the show was the need to reduce cost for the participants and speed the process within the move in and move out,” Zimmerman said. “So yes, this is very much a streamlined process.”

Large wooden crates rest on the GMC staging area inside the Huntington Place convention center in Detroit on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. David Rodriguez Munoz, Detroit Free Press

Large twine ropes sit in front of the Ram experience torque wall and ramp for the North American International Auto Show preparations in Detroit on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. David Rodriguez Munoz, Detroit Free Press

Willie Biggs, 58, retired carpenter, takes video of the preparations for the North American International Auto Show inside the Huntington Place convention center in Detroit on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. David Rodriguez Munoz, Detroit Free Press

Willie Biggs, 58, a retired carpenter who began working at the auto show in 1985 and is working this year, has witnessed a huge change.

“I used to work eight to 10 weeks; now, I’m only working eight days,” Biggs said. In previous years I would get 500 hours during the build; now, I’ll be lucky to get 100 hours.”

Zimmermann said the show is expecting a minimum of 300,000 people, and 400,000 would be ideal. In previous years, the auto show saw about 800,000 to 900,000 people.

Although the decline in jobs is felt by labor workers, show executives hope that after this hiatus, the show will do nothing but grow.

Published 10:29 am UTC Sep. 10, 2022 Updated 11:02 am UTC Sep. 10, 2022