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Obama says he’ll attend Detroit auto show later this month

FCA will be among more than a dozen automakers exhibiting their vehicles to thousands of journalists attending the two-day press preview, which kicks off Monday.

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Entering his a year ago in office, President Barack Obama is finally going to check out the Detroit auto show. The Obama administration played a key role in propping up GM and Chrysler during the financial crisis, so their recent success will likely be touted as a victory.

A White House spokesman told the Detroit Free Press that Obama would tour the show on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

“I believe that every American should be proud of what our most iconic industry has done”, Obama said.

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton also will be in Detroit on Tuesday to host a fundraiser at the same hotel where many media members and auto executives will stay during the show.

Obama is widely credited with helping the auto manufacturers and the manufacturing industry in general recover from the historic recession.

“The point is”, Obama said, “America can do anything”. If self-driving, shared cars become the norm, he said, that could mean 60 per cent fewer vehicles on the road, and a one-third reduction in the number of auto-assembly plants by 2025 or 2030.

The big auto makers, including General Motors, will all be part of the show.

“These vehicles have gotten more efficient”, said Brinley.

Chrysler, which invented the minivan, will be showing the latest redesigned version of its Town & Country. This is the first vehicle from Volvo to win an award since the company was purchased by Chinese automaker Geely during the recession.

“There may be some balking at first if people want to make an issue of it but I imagine in the long run it won’t be a deal breaker for a lot of people”.

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The most important premium sedan is the redesigned Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Eight cars to look out for at this year's Detroit Motor Show