The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) is teaming up with the PNC Foundation to promote early childhood education — and a love for cars — at the annual Detroit show.
The event, known as PNC Grow Up Great Day, is part of the $350 million, multi-year initiative PNC Grow Up Great. The 2019 event will target more than 400 Detroit Public Schools (DPS) pre-K students and provide them with an innovative and fun way to think about cars.
“The youngsters of today will be our future automotive leaders of tomorrow,” said 2019 NAIAS Chairman Bill Golling. “They may be at our show colouring with crayons now, but someday the wonderful imagination ignited here could translate into designing, engineering and building mobility solutions that will change our way of life in the future.”
Students attending the event will have the opportunity to enjoy a range of educational activities. The focus will be on science, technology, reading, engineering arts and mathematics (STREAM). They will be able to participate in a colouring contest, a Lego car-building project, and workshops — among other things.
They will also receive a copy of the book Pincy’s Auto Show Adventures, which is based on the adventures of the canine Pincy. The dog was created by NAIAS to help encourage children to learn about automobiles and the auto show.
The event comes at a time when auto show organizers are struggling to remain significant to consumers and carmakers. According to U.S. newspaper The Detroit News, events like the Detroit auto show are losing influence and OEMs. Audi is among a number of manufacturers that pulled out of the show.
“Our product cadence simply did not fit Detroit,” said Mark Dahncke, Audi’s product communications director. “Auto shows have become so expensive and less relevant with the advent of the internet.”
Connecting with children at a young age may be a key to the future survival of these shows.
The PNC Grow Up Great Day education event will take place on Jan. 24, 2019 at NAIAS.
