Detroit is known as Motor City for a reason. Metro Detroit is home to General Motors (Tii:GM), Ford (Tii:F) and Stellantis (Tii:STLA) North America (the parent company of Chrysler) along with countless automotive plants, parts suppliers and engineering operations.

The showcase for the industry is the North American International Auto Show (aka Detroit Auto Show), an event that defines what comes next when it comes to mobility. Mobility is a key word as the transportation industry moves from cars and trucks to myriad forms of getting from one place to the next.

Simply put, the North American International Auto Show is one of the most important international automotive events in the world. Its history is one of concepts, chrome and cool cars, but it is increasingly a showcase for emerging technologies and what is introduced and discussed at the show defines the industry for years – if not decades – to come.

Automotive companies and those that supply it are popular with retail investors. The companies tend to be relatively safe and stable and often are included in a diversified portfolio. The sector also has its share of start ups and disruptive technology that is worth watching as an individual investor. Those looking for the latest in new technology will find it in the expanded 2022 AutoMobili-D (AMD), which will showcase an array of 133 companies focused on mobility technologies, products and services.

While your portfolio may not include any brands directly connected to the auto show, gearheads are rewarded on TiiCKER, an app that connects investors to shareholder rewards. Several brands related to the automotive industry offer shareholder perks on TiiCKER. Shareholder rewards are available from CarLotz (Tii:LOTZ), Penske Automotive Group (Tii:PAG), Lear (Tii:LEA), GM (Tii:GM), Horizon Global (Tii:HZN), Repsol (Tii:REPYF), Stoneridge (Tii:SRI), Superior Industries International (Tii:SUP), Unique Fabricating (Tii:UFAB) and Visteon (Tii:VC).

Retail shareholders who sign up and connect their brokerage accounts on TiiCKER can qualify for valuable perks simply by holding stock in their favorite companies.

The last Detroit Auto Show took place in January 2019, just before the pandemic shut the world down. The show was changing, even then. At that time, organizers said the event would be held in June 2020, but the ongoing pandemic put an end to those plans. So show officials have used the time off to redesign the event, moving away from the expensive and elaborate displays manufacturers built in the past to more outdoor events and virtual new car unveilings.

There will be changes when it comes to exhibitors as well. Even before the COVID pause, automakers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Ferrari, Porsche and Jaguar had pulled out of the show. That doesn’t mean there is nothing new to see. In fact, the show’s focus is more on mobility – the way we get around now and in the future – than any one car or new technology.

This year’s North American International Auto Show, which begins Wednesday with industry and media days before opening to the public, is being dubbed the “next-generation auto show.”

Show organizers are promising “a totally transformed indoor and outdoor experience, including brand-defining vehicles, product ride-and-drives and dynamic experiential activations.” The reimagined event includes: AutoMobili-D, an inside look at future mobility platforms; Media Day, an opportunity for automakers and industry suppliers to debut new products and technologies; Industry Tech Days, a chance to preview emerging mobility technologies and engage with innovators; Charity Preview, a signature fundraising gala for children’s charities; and the Public Show, a nine-day mobility and community celebration with activations and entertainment citywide.

For more information, visit naias.com.

Editor’s Note: TiiCKER will be in Detroit covering the North American International Auto Show and bring you coverage from the event.