New York might be the city that never sleeps, but Detroit’s frequently mentioned among the most insomniatic cities in the nation. We’re here to make sure it stays that way with this week’s most tantalizing events. 

Upcoming events (March 19-26)

March du Nain Rouge 

Cass Corridor

March 22

Free

Embrace your wicked nature and dance for the Demon of the Strait this Sunday. The March du Nain Rouge has taken place in Detroit for well over a decade, but the story of this devlish figure has loomed over the city for more than 300 years.

I suppose it was about time that we showed him some love.

The parade features massive floats, costumed street performers, musicians and more. It’s a day where all glorious freaks, artists and partygoers show out for their supremely devilish leader in pursuit of a sinfully good time. The event begins at 11:30 a.m., with the opening ceremony starting at 1 p.m. 

Ann Arbor Film Festival 

Michigan Theatre

March 24-29

Free-$85

The Ann Arbor Film Festival is back for its 63rd year, showcasing filmmakers from around the globe. The festival highlights experimental, animation, documentary, fiction and performance-based works. It takes place over the course of six days and enlists a wide variety of programs, each of which has several competing films.

Tickets for each screening are $15, while the opening night party will run you $85. So, grab a drink, see a film and hit an afterparty with some newfound friends. Screenings start as early as 10:30 a.m., with some going until 2:30 a.m. 

Totally Rad Vintage Fest 

Huntington Place

March 21-22

$8 – $25

Step into the past at Huntington Place this weekend for a chance to score that perfectly weathered 70’s tassel jacket you’ve been eyeing, or perhaps even that pair of Heineken dunks you’ve been searching for since ’03. There’s a plethora of vendors selling everything from clothes to vinyl and video games this year; you won’t want to miss this.

And if you’re just getting dragged along by your eBay-loving bestie, don’t worry, there’s free-to-play arcade games and a retro museum for you to drift away to while they hunt for the perfect pair of jeans. The event begins at 5 p.m. on both days.  

The Rusty Snails  

The Blind Pig

March 21

$20

The Rusty Snails have been carving a name for themselves recently—perhaps you’ve seen their new song “Northern Man” floating around on Instagram. Regardless, I’m proud to announce they’re coming to Ann Arbor this Saturday as a part of The Blind Pig’s Americana and Country Music Showcase. The brother-sister folk duo from Detroit is playing alongside Jen Sygit and Jadyn Savage, making sure to infuse you with all the twang Michigan has to offer. The event starts at 6 p.m. 

St. Baddies Day 

Big Pink

March 21 

$23

St. Patrick’s Day may be over, but that doesn’t mean the festivities have to end. This year, we were robbed with a mid-week celebration— but there’s a way to be compensated for your loss. Trek over to the neon lights of the Eastside and get ready to dance like an Irishman as Munch and Blakito spin banger after banger. The event starts at 10 p.m. and goes until 2 a.m. 

Monster Jam 

Ford Field

March 21-22

$40+

It’d be easy to chop up Monster Jam to being just a children’s event, but let’s be honest, everyone wants to see a 6-ton truck dressed like a bull do a backflip. This time around, drivers are competing for the Stadium Championship Series East. 

Whether you’re there for family fun or 2000’s nostalgia, we won’t judge. For all you know, I’ll be there with a foam finger and a Grave Digger hat…not that I’m choosing sides or anything. Oh, and make sure to grab a Pit Party ticket to meet the drivers and check out the beasts up close. The event starts at 5 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. 

Concert in Alkyone 

Detroit Institute of Arts Theatre

March 19

Free

Take a stroll over to the DIA for a modern Mediterranean experience as the Hellenic Museum of Michigan hosts a performance by Alkyone, a musician from Northern Greece who melds traditional Greek styles with the ethereal contemporary sounds of indiepop and folk. The event begins at 7 p.m. and go until 10 p.m.   

Sweely 

Lincoln Factory

March 20

$23

If it’s specifically house music that’s calling your name, we’ve got something up our sleeve for you too. This Friday at the Lincoln Factory, French producer Sweely is headlining with m.O.N.R.O.E, Rakim Under and more in tow. This is Sweely’s first time performing in Detroit and in exchange for our stamina, he’s rewarding us with retro funk and jazz-inspired tracks until the sun comes up. This event begins at 10 p.m. and goes until 5 a.m.

THRG Presents 

Marble Bar

March 20

$17

If you’re looking to start somewhere else on Friday and then migrate over to Lincoln, you might want to check out Marble Bar. Breakbeat and Bass are gonna be shaking the windows as Emma DJ, Maara, Jacob Park and more make the dance floor erupt. This event begins at 9 p.m. and goes until 3 a.m. 

We know you’re tired from the joyful depravity of yester-week, but strap down those light-up Velcro sketchers and get yourself prepared for another 7 days of endless art and music in the Paris of the West.  

Upcoming events (March 12-19)

313 Day at The Station

Michigan Central Station

March 13

  $15

Embrace the city you love and hold it tight, or twirl it around, as you party in a piece of history this 313 day at Michigan Central Station. World-renowned DJ, Waajeed, is turning the building into an instrument of its own as house and hip-hop resonate off the limestone and into your bones.

The set begins at 6 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m., so as long as you can keep your eyes wide, you’ll be just in time for our next events. 

LA DISCOTECA 

Tangent Gallery

March 13

$20

The ear canal isn’t just a means of hearing; it’s a portal into another place and time. This Friday, transport yourself to Bogotá at the Tangent Gallery. DJ RUIZ OSC1 is spinning deep vinyl mixes that blends Colombian salsa with entrancing electronic drumlines, and if you’re one of those people who feels the need to step away from the party for a moment, feel free to check out the artists Tangent has sprawled across the walls. The event starts at 9 p.m. and goes until 3 a.m.

Piano Party 

Big Pink

March 13

$23

If your soul doesn’t long for Latin American melodies, maybe you’re feeling more drawn to the sounds of South Africa. This Friday, get ready to immerse yourself in the warmth of Johannesburg rhythm with DJs Yung D, Blakito and Ivy as they make the turntables erupt with Afrohouse, Amapiano and Gqom. The event starts at 10 p.m. and goes until 2 a.m. 

City of Stars 

2529 Orleans St. Detroit, MI

March 13

$10

Skate over to Eastern Market for the City of Stars art exhibition to view the works of local artists Sheefy McFly, Tony Whlgn, Phil Simpson and more, while you sip a cocktail and enjoy some barbecue. Four art pieces will be raffled off at the end of the night. Tickets to enter are $5. The event starts at 6 p.m. and goes until 12 a.m. 

Street Wear Art Market 

Detroit Shipping Company 

March 13

Free

Now, if you’re looking at all these options for 313 day and thinking to yourself, “man, I want to pop out tonight, but my outfits look like they were curated by a colorblind 5-year-old,” don’t worry, we’re here to help. Support local fashion and get yourself right at Detroit Shipping Company’s street wear art market, featuring artists ZekeDidIt, Artnuttz, Crushed Velvet Collection and more. Take the opportunity to network and grab a brew while you contemplate which hat fits the night’s vibe. The event begins at 4 p.m. and goes until 9 p.m. 

Darcy Moran 

The Crofoot

March 14

$23

Take a hike out to Pontiac to see emerging metro Detroit rock band Darcy Moran with openers Fremont Pike, Times New Roman and Travesty. Call an Uber, grab a few drinks and support the musicians that help make Michigan great. The event begins at 6 p.m. 

American Aquarium  

The Sanctuary

March 18

$33

That being said, if you were looking to combine your urge for rock with a bit of country twang, we’ve got the drop on that, too. North Carolina’s own American Aquarium is performing in Hamtramck next Wednesday, so make your choice, cowboy boots or Vans and make your way down The Sanctuary for some southern revelry. The show begins at 7 p.m. 

The Sounds of Laurel Canyon 

Orchestra Hall

March 13 -15

$21

But, if you’re more of an old soul and you’re looking to escape to the sweet sounds of 60’s and 70’s California rock, be sure to take a trip over to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra this weekend. Led by conductor Jeff Tyzik, the DSO is going to be enveloped in the music that made a generation of peace and love, featuring hits from The Eagles, The Doors, Fleetwood Mac and more. The event begins at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with a 3 p.m. show on Sunday.  

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Michigan Ave, Corktown

March 17

Free

You didn’t think we’d really forget St. Patrick’s Day, did you? Well… maybe afterwards, but we’ll cross that four-leaf clover when we come to it. Grab your shillelaghs and keep a pint in your pocket as the city gathers to celebrate the Irish. The parade begins at 1 p.m.

Cadillac officials are praising the company’s performance in Australia this past weekend at it’s first-ever Formula One race.

Cadillac drivers finished near the back of the field, but that’s still a victory for a team that only entered the pinnacle of auto racing roughly a year ago.

The effort was initially organized by racer Michael Andretti.

Cadillac team manager Graeme Lowdon says he joined after a phone call from Andretti’s father, racing legend Mario Andretti.

“And at the end of the call, I still remember it now, he said, ‘Right, well that’s great Graeme. Just one more thing. Don’t let me down.’ And I’m thinking this is Mario Andretti, 1978 World Champion. Here’s a guy who raced everything. When you have somebody like that saying I really want to do this, don’t let me down, you listen,” Lowdon said.

Now Mario Andretti is on the board of Cadillac F1.

About a week before the first Grand Prix, Andretti said Cadillac had made staggering progress.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Mario Andretti: It’s a gigantic effort. The team is new but there’s a lot of experience there, including the drivers. We’re very fortunate, both of them having been Formula One winners. So that experience in itself is invaluable.

A lot of the elements are in place. And this incredible amount of positive energy within the team. That is always the main part, in my opinion, the human side.

This thing has been in the works now for the better part of three years. Many moving parts, but everybody feels that they have a lot to gain, career-wise. And that’s a beautiful thing.

Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: You were talking about Cadillac being a U.S.-based team when you spoke with lawmakers on Capitol Hill a couple of years ago. You said F1 was like the Olympics of motor sports.

MA: This team has that objective in mind, to give it all-American representation down the road. You know, at least have one American driver on the team. Since you’re competing in that international field, I compare it to the Olympics because there’s a lot of national pride from all the competitors. I remember when I was fortunate enough to win a F1 race anywhere in the world, when I was on the top of the podium, the U.S. national anthem was played.

In Formula One, pretty much every single race is happening in a different country. Fortunately, the U.S. now has three of them after the explosion of interest that we have seen in Formula One.

You should walk my walk, Quinn. People that you would never, ever think would know anything about Formula One, with Cadillac as a team, they ask how everything is going. It gives you a lot of courage. Whatever effort has to be put forth is all worth it.

QK: For yourself, personally, after all the work your son Michael put in to even get a possible team in place before it became all Cadillac F1. And then to have achieved this entry. What’s it mean to you now?

MA: I’m a minute part of all of this. But I feel that I contributed at the beginning to get things going. And there’s a lot of pride. I love motor sports in general like no one ever. Maybe somebody has loved it as much, but never more than me. And now to be part of something historic.

General Motors was never officially part of Formula One before.I tell the story that I got to meet Zora Arkus-Duntov, who was called the “Father of the Corvette,” back in the 60s. [Duntov turned GM’s Corvettes into racing cars.] He and I gravitated to one another because we were both immigrants and did well in the sport. And he understood the importance of Formula One.

I kept saying, “Zora, you gotta get General Motors into Formula One.” He said, “Oh Mario, I speak, I speak. No one hear me now.” But now they heard. The people in charge, the personalities at the top, see the value of it. It’s a great commitment from GM. And the sport, I think, will be better off for it.

Formula 1, the most renowned auto racing competition, is gearing up for the first race of its World Championship season this weekend.

Metro Detroit fans, in particular, have a new reason to watch. For the first time, General Motors is entering the competition, while Ford is returning to F1 after a long absence.

Ford’s grand reveal

Earlier this year, the Ford Motor Company turned the Michigan Central station into a gala event attended by thousands, with millions more viewing it online.

It was all to celebrate a new paint scheme.

Specifically, the latest colors for the cars of Ford’s racing team partner, Red Bull Formula 1— a team that has won multiple F1 championships.

Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. told the crowd that racing is in the Dearborn-based automaker’s blood.

“125 years ago, my great grandfather Henry Ford won a race right here in Detroit to help launch the Ford Motor Company,” he said. “Alongside Red Bull, we intend to make history again. And to quote my uncle, Henry Ford II, ‘let’s go like hell.’”

Ford is helping Red Bull build its own engine, a process that’s taken years.

Reasons for Ford’s return

The automaker’s global director of racing, Mark Rushbrook, says rule changes mandating different types of chassis and new hybrid engines drew Ford to F1.

But he also notes that there’s been an explosion of interest in Formula 1 in the U.S.

It’s been sparked by Brad Pitt’s recent feature film about F1 and the Netflix TV show “Drive to Survive.”

Rushbrook says that makes investing in the series worthwhile for both the company and people looking to buy a Ford. 

“In Formula 1 we’re gonna have a great audience, great diversity in that audience. But there’s so much innovation and tech transfer that will make it onto our vehicles that we sell to our customers,” he said.

GM joins the race

It’s been more than two decades since Ford was in F1.

And now, for the first time ever, the pinnacle of racing includes Ford’s crosstown competitor, General Motors.

“We took the decision to come into Formula 1 before GM did because we wanted to race against Ferrari, Mercedes and we knew Audi was coming in,” Rushbrook said. “We believe it’s great that GM is coming in with Cadillac. It’s not necessarily a rivalry, per se.” 

Starting from scratch

GM, in fact, faces additional challenges.

Ford is joining the established Red Bull team. But the head of Cadillac’s F1 effort, team principal Graeme Lowdon, says General Motors is creating an entire Formula 1 car, plus eventually an engine, completely from scratch. 

“This team has grown from a sheet of paper, literally a blank sheet of paper, he said.”

Cadillac had to design and build a car while hiring enough people to staff a F1 team that typically employs 1000 people, including engineers, attorneys, marketers and others.

Lowdon likens it to the complexity and compressed timeframe of the Apollo project to land a human on the moon.

But although it will be based in the U.S., Lowdon said on the official F1 podcast “Beyond the Grid” the team is still grooming U.S. driving talent.

“Because we talk to the fans we know it’s something that they want to see—an American driver in an American car, ultimately with an American engine,” Lowdon said. “But this is Formula 1. You can’t go for second best just because it ticks some other box, because you’re not going to win.”

A dream come true

Cadillac made it to the track for test sessions earlier this year, but they faced some difficulty on the way.

Formula 1’s management initially rejected U.S. race team owner Michael Andretti’s joint bid with Cadillac to enter the series. The team was accepted after both Michael Andretti and a high-level F1 management official stepped down.

Some in Congress had also threatened to launch an anti-trust investigation, claiming F1 should not be allowed to hold races in the U.S. and then forbid a U.S. automaker from entering the series.

Cadillac kept an Andretti presence in the fold, appointing Michael Andretti’s father, legendary racer Mario Andretti, a board member of the team.

Cadillac even named its first Formula 1 car’s serial number after him, the MAC-26, as in Mario Andretti Cadillac of 2026.

Andretti says the result fulfills a dream he’s had since the 1960’s.

That’s when he says he met Zora Arkus-Duntov, who had turned GM’s Corvettes into race cars. 

“He knew the importance of F1,” Andretti remembered. “I kept saying, ‘Zora, you gotta get General Motors into Formula 1.’ He said, ‘Oh Mario, I speak, I speak. No one hear me.’ But now they heard.”

And GM officials say finally entering F1’s first race in Australia does not mean Cadillac has reached the finish line.

They say it’s just the start.

Whether you’re a fan of country, EDM or hardcore, we’ve got you covered this week with some of the wildest events the city has to offer, and maybe even a place to improve your wardrobe in preparation.

Upcoming events (Mar. 5 to Mar. 12)

Michigan Sneaker Xchange 

Huntington Place 

Mar. 7 

  $30

I’d say, “run over to Huntington Place,” but we wouldn’t want you to crease your 3’s before this event even begins. The Michigan Sneaker Xchange is back once again with over 150 vendors dealing out everything from daily beaters to your lifelong grails. Buy, sell and trade your way from those dirty air forces to a pair of deadstock purple lobsters; those without a booth are allowed to bring up to 4 pairs. This event runs from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

The Sound of Music 

Fox Theatre 

Mar. 5 – Mar. 8

$38+

The hills are alive and romance has filled the air in Detroit this month. Time travel back to your childhood and embrace the drops of golden sun at the Fox Theatre this weekend for a performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s critically acclaimed The Sound of Music, directed by three-time Tony Awards winner Jack O’Brien. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show will begin at 7:30 p.m. 

Classical Roots Concert 

Orchestra Hall

Mar. 6 – Mar. 7 

$26

Swathe your ears in the silk of symphony at the 48th Annual Classic Roots Concerts hosted by the DSO. Since 1978, the DSO has held this event as a spotlight to better appreciate the works of black composers. The event is premiered by Kenneth Tomkins, commemorating the experiences of the enslaved and abolitionists upon the Underground Railroad with his spirited moving concerto. The Friday performance will be at 10:45 a.m., with Saturday night’s performance starting at 7:30 p.m. 

DCFC Kit Unveiling & Afterparty 

Big Pink

Mar. 5

$23

Grab your cleats and head over to the East Side as the Detroit City Football Club gets ready to reveal their new uniforms and make you hit your signature celebration moves on the dance floor. Earlier in the evening, there will be pickup soccer games, food vendors, drinks and more. Later, the kids are gone and the party goes on as DJs Sheefy McFly and JMT juggle the decks…just make sure not to take a dive. 

Midwest Freaks 

Tangent

Mar. 7

$35

Unleash your freak and shake off those conformist notions like a dog in a tick-riddled field this weekend with some of the most debaucherous DJs Detroit has to offer. This is the third city Midwest Freaks has taken on in its crusade to liberate the self-doubting traditionalists of the Rust Belt, although maybe it’s time you hedonists show them a thing or two about the beautiful anomaly we call our city. DJs include Rrose, BMG, Centrific and more. The event starts at 9 p.m. and goes until 6 a.m., so stay hydrated you night owls.  

Cuffing SZN 

Big Pink

Mar. 7

$23

Follow the pink neon glow over to Big Pink this Saturday and make sure to bring your partner or be prepared to find one; DJ MOCHI and Fullbodydurag are spinning R&B tracks until your heart looks like the Grinch’s post-Whoville Christmas carol. The event starts at 10 p.m. and ends at 3 a.m. 

Panda House 

The Sanctuary

Mar. 6

$22

Make sure to keep a piece of bamboo on your person this weekend because Panda House is bringing the zoo to The Sanctuary. The Detroit-based hardcore band is playing a set alongside Hail Your Highness, Brown Maple and Great Planes. The event starts at 7 p.m.  

Stephen Wilson Jr. 

The Fillmore

Mar. 11

$53+

Envelop yourself in Americana next Wednesday with a performance by emerging country/rock sensation Stephen Wilson Jr. The Indiana native is hitting our city as part of his Gary the Torch Tour and believe me, you’re not going to want to miss this baseball-capped guitarist’s rise to fame. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. 

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled against the Trump Administration’s tariff policy. But there are still unresolved challenges out there.

That includes one filled by Michigan-based auto parts company, Detroit Axle. It filed a case against the Trump Administration’s tariff policy last spring.

Detroit Axle CEO Mike Musheinesh says their case was put on stay until the one the Supreme Court recently ruled on concluded.

“So now we’re going back to the court of international trade and saying ‘okay here we are again. They won, so did we win?’ And if we win, we’re able to keep reducing the price for the consumer,” says Musheinesh.

Detroit Axle’s case takes aim at Trump’s elimination of the so-called “de minimis exemption.” That rule had allowed small packages valued at less than $800 to avoid tariffs.

Musheinesh says revenue was up 35% last year, compared to 2024. But profitability was down more than 80%.

“During the first Trump Administration, we used to pay the government $25,000 in tariffs for a million-dollars-worth of products imported,” says Musheinesh. “Now for that same million-dollars-worth of products imported, we pay the government $725,000.”

Musheinesh adds that tariffs have forced him to raise prices on consumers.

President Trump lashed out at the U.S. Supreme Court after it ruled his use of certain tariffs was illegal.

Trump noted he had other options, including blocking all trade with other nations.

“I can destroy the trade. I can destroy the country,” the president said. “I’m even allowed to impose a foreign country-destroying embargo. I can embargo. I can do anything I want. But I can’t charge $1.”

Trump later said he would impose a new global 15% tariff, though it initially began at 10%.

Congress would have to extend the tariff in about five months. The president could potentially get around that provision by announcing a new round of levies at that time.

Many businesses are weighing the impact of the tariff upheaval, including Detroit’s Big 3 automakers.

The head of the trade association MichAuto, Glenn Stevens, Jr., says car companies had anticipated the High Court’s decision.

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length. 

Glenn Stevens, Jr.: It was pretty much assumed that the justices would rule this way based on some of the preliminary arguments. We also felt that there would be a response from the administration that they might use additional or new tools if the Supreme Court ruled this way. And we have seen the president state that. I think it does reaffirm the power of Congress according to the U.S. Constitution, in the case of this particular act. But it leaves a lot of uncertainty with our industries and in our economy.

Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: The High Court ruled on the reciprocal tariffs on other countries. But they’re still allowing levies imposed ostensibly to protect national security. The 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts still stands, except for imports covered under the North American trade deal. So, how do you see the Supreme Court decision affecting the auto industry in particular?

GS: It affects a portion of it. But not by any stretch all of the tariffs and trade deals that have been put in place since Jan. 20 of last year when the America First Trade Policy Act was issued. Yes, the national security tariffs remain in place. The unfair trade practice tariffs remain in place. Those are very tied heavily to China. Those are significant. But anything that did deal with this Emergency Powers Act has been struck down now.

What happens from here, we don’t know. There will be court challenges. The question of whether companies will be able to get a rebate, so to speak, on what they paid, there was no direction from the court on that. So, again, we have a lot of uncertainty moving forward. And then we have a new wild card, which we anticipated, where the president said that he’d use fair trade and anti-dumping subsidy tariffs. And there’s a whole process for that.

QK: And how would that affect the auto industry?

GS: It’s such a complex supply chain. It depends on where the vehicles are assembled. It depends on what is the country of origin where the components come from. For example, a lot of the parts and the components are still exempt on this continent under the current USMCA agreement. But if you’re importing parts from other countries outside of that agreement, it does impact you, the 25% on imported vehicles does apply. So it’s actually quite complex and has been for some time. And this may muddle it up a little bit more.

QK: The trade deal between the US, Mexico, and Canada was coming up for review this year. It’s vital for automakers in particular, considering the cross-pollination of parts and vehicles between the three countries. But with this new Supreme Court decision, do you think the president may have a lot less leverage to push for a new USMCA deal that he would like?

GS: I’m not so sure about the less leverage. What I do know is our organization and many others that are related to the industry, we remain steadfast that we need to get to a renewed and strengthened USMCA agreement. We are stronger together with Canada and Mexico in the current supply chain.

Are modifications and some things needed to be adjusted? Yes. Where that goes, we’re not sure. Discussions are at a bit of a stalemate. But we have quite a bit of runway yet up to July 1st with regards to that.

QK: Canada reached a deal recently with China to sell some Chinese vehicles in that country. The Ford Motor Company has talked about perhaps trying to set up their own deal with Chinese automakers. General Motors has said they did not want that type of a thing. In light of what’s happened with tariffs now, how do you think all that might play out?

GS: Let’s look at the Canada situation first. Prime Minister Carney has a tentative agreement with China to import a small quantity, a very controlled number, of electric vehicles. That was a significant development that has drawn some criticism from the White House. It may complicate things. Again, I underscore that it’s tentative. There are a lot of other things going on with regards to trade and we’re not really certain where this is going right now.

QK: Some automotive analysts have forecast that the impact of tariffs would force car companies to raise prices on new vehicles this year. Now we have this Supreme Court decision. Even if it only affects the auto industry to an extent, as you said, it does not totally rid it of any of the difficulties companies might suffer from having tariffs. So where do you see it going now in terms of potential price increases?

GS: That’s hard to say. It’s probably not going to impact things too directly. At this point, most of the companies have absorbed as much of the increases they can within their supply chains. Affordability of vehicles is an issue. The average in our country is about $50,000 for a new vehicle. That’s a high number. Anyone who sells, distributes, or makes vehicles in this country is very hesitant to raise those prices any further. We have seen some creep.

We’ve seen some certain charges increase, like destination charges on the delivery of a vehicle, and that’s been one way the extra cost has been passed through. But there haven’t been significant increases. Most of the time in any type of consumer product, when prices go up, they don’t tend to come down too quickly. So that’s not good for the consumer.

QK: One of the things you’ve mentioned several times is the uncertainty of the situation. I’ve heard many business executives over the last year or so complain that one of the hardest things about tariffs is the uncertainty they create for people trying to make a business plan. Now we also have this Supreme Court ruling. In your view, is this making it even more uncertain now?

GS: It could, yes. The key words the in last year have been instability and uncertainty. If you apply those two words to just about anything, they’re not good. Especially if you apply them to the automotive industry. It is a long lead time, complex supply chain business that requires stability and certainty to make capital decisions, to look at its workforce, to look at supply chains. We do have new tariffs now. That doesn’t give stability and certainty.

Whether you’re a gearhead, political advocate, artist or house-head, we’ve got you covered this week with the finest club experiences and family functions the city has to offer. Put on your Saturday night best and try to keep it clean for Sunday morning, Detroit!

Upcoming events (Feb. 26 to Mar. 5)

Autorama 

Huntington Place 

Feb. 27-Mar. 1 

  General Admission: $30, Kids 6-12: $10, Kids 5 & Under: Free 

Come down to Huntington Place to experience Detroit’s 73rd Autorama! Check out over 800 unique works of art encapsulating hot-rods, muscle cars, trucks and motorbikes. The event will feature live music, celebrity appearances, famous movie cars, a pin-up contest, and more. The event will run from Friday to Sunday. 

Ground Zero 

TV Lounge 

Feb. 28

$35

The weather isn’t the only thing heating up this weekend. TV Lounge is hosting Ground Zero with performances from DJ Dextro, Redax and Lofila, spinning techno until your heart gives out and legs collapse. Dextro, known for his work on Missile, CLR and Mutual Rhythm, is sure to make this Saturday night one to remember…or not. The event will begin at 9 and go until “late.” 

Art March 

215 W Nine Mile, Ferndale, MI 

Mar. 1-Mar. 31 

Free

Celebrate and connect with Ferndale artists for the second annual Art March! Meet with gallery owners, local businesses and more as you enjoy live music, food vendors and a cash bar. There will be a wide variety of events available throughout March, but the opening takes place on the 1st from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

State of the Mama 

Jam Handy

Mar. 5

Free

Come down to Jam Handy next Thursday for the Mothering Justice Action Fund’s State of the Mama. This year’s theme is “Rooted in Resistance: Mamas Decide,” honoring generations of Black resistance while advocating for mothers to make their voices heard to contribute to Michigan’s political future. There will be a panel discussion with State and Federal candidates as well as Michigan advocates, including Abdul El-Sayed, Mallory McMorrow, Eboni Taylor, Nyah Phillips and more. The event will begin at 5 p.m. and go until 8 p.m.  

Dilla World 

Lincoln Factory

Feb. 28

$23

It’s been 20 years since J. Dilla passed and Detroit remains hungry for donuts. Dance your way down to Lincoln Factory for the 5th annual celebration of Dilla’s life and legacy with artists Blaaqgold, Meftah, Big Tone and more. Best to start this set with a pre-function coffee because this event starts at 10 p.m. and goes until 5 a.m. 

Donovan Glover & Jeanine Styles 

Big Pink

Feb. 27

$23

Warehouse raves made Detroit notorious for its nightlife in the 90’s and 2000’s, and today’s no different…well, perhaps it’s a bit more up to “legal standards” now, but you get the gist. Join DJs Donovan Glover and Jeanine Styles for an evening of high BPM house and dance music over on the east side. The event starts at 10 p.m. and goes until 2 a.m. 

The Planet D Nonet 

Cliff Bells

Feb. 26-Mar.1

$25

If you’re not a fan or tired of Detroit’s electronic side, perhaps you’ll be better off getting acquainted with its older-spirited cousin. Hop, skip and jump over to Cliff Bells between Thursday and Sunday to witness The Planet D Nonent perform their acclaimed album, “Echoes of Harlem: A Salute to Duke Ellington, Vol. 2.” Doors open at 5 p.m. for dinner and 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. for show seating.  

Peter McPoland & Girl Tones 

The Shelter

Mar. 3

$35+

Peter McPoland takes on The Shelter with Girl Tones in tow this upcoming Tuesday. Vermont clashes with Kentucky on stage as these two budding alternative rock powerhouses visit our not-so-little city as part of McPoland’s Big Lucky Tour that began earlier this month. The event begins at 7 p.m. 

FRAMEWORK 

Northern Lights Lounge

Feb. 28

$23+

Now, if you’re saying to yourself, “Come on Owen, I know you’ve got to include a bit of variety, but I was hoping for a bit more EDM,” I’ve got you covered. Pop out to New Center for some more electronic-fueled, intimate debauchery with DJ sets by Detroit’s own Rick Wade, Shigeto, Ryan Spencer and Todd Modes. The event begins at 9 p.m. and goes until 3 a.m. 

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this post was published without mentioning State Sen. Mallory McMorrow’s attendance of the State of the Mama event. We have amended this omission to better be in accordance with our value of fair coverage.

You can look at Ford Motor Company’s 2025 financial report in two ways. 

On one hand, the automaker earned $6.8 billion before interest, taxes, and one-time costs. On the other hand, when you subtract those figures, it shows a net loss of more than $8 billion, the largest shortfall in almost 20 years.

Ford CEO Jim Farley focused on the positives in his report to shareholders.

“Ford delivered a strong 2025 in a dynamic and often volatile environment,” Farley said.

Tariffs added to that volatility. Ford says it paid $2 billion in import taxes in 2025. 

EV losses jolt the bottom line

Automotive analyst Paul Eisenstein with Headlight.News says electric vehicles proved very costly.

“Ford wrote off almost $20 billion on its electric vehicle operations,” he says. “That reflects a whole bunch of changes to their EV program.”

Ford ended production of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck. It also backed away from plans to convert a factory in Memphis, Tenn. into an EV-only facility.

Eisenstein says Ford has yet to make a profit on EVs but is not abandoning them. He says the company will launch its Universal EV concept at a factory in Louisville, Ky. 

“It’s a radical change in the way you design and build vehicles,” he says. “And if it works, it could lower the cost of EVs substantially.”

Quality is Job 1…or is it?

Farley’s biggest challenge may be improving quality. Ford issued 153 vehicle recalls in 2025, a new industry record. Eisenstein says Ford owners are tired of having multiple recalls on the same vehicle, and often for the same problem.

“This is costing the company billions of dollars and ticking off a lot of customers,” he says.

The blue oval has a silver lining

Ford’s annual earnings statement offered some hope. The company reported record revenue of $187 billion. U.S. sales rose 6% over 2024. And hourly workers will receive individual profit-sharing checks worth about $6800 based on pre-tax earnings.

Eisenstein says net profits or losses can be deceiving.

“The net can be affected by those one-time charges, which can be manipulated to give you a good or bad number, depending on what you feel like you need,” he says. “You want to have a clear sense of what the individual elements in the bottom line are all about.”

This year’s Detroit Auto Show marks the second time the event has been held since returning to its traditional winter date. While it isn’t as large as it once was, there are still plenty of new vehicles to kick the tires on.

One way the show has changed is that there aren’t the same level of high-profile vehicle launches as there once were. In fact, Ford opted to hold some of its major unveils at an alternate event across town.

Ford Racing’s season preview saw the company take the covers off two new F1 cars. The Dearborn automaker also used the occasion to debut its latest version of Ford Mustang, the Dark Horse SC.

Mark Rushbrook is global director of Ford Racing. He says taking the festivities to Michigan Central, a place Ford is heavily invested in, was a logical move.

“I mean, I think this is a symbol of the City of Detroit,” says Rushbrook. “To be able to come here, with racing as we have it, with Formula 1 at the top…it made sense.”

Despite being unveiled somewhere else, the Mustang Dark Horse SC has made its way over to the Detroit Auto Show. Attendees can find it on display in the Ford exhibit throughout the week.

Chevrolet’s Chad Lyons says the way car companies unveil products is evolving.

“I think it’s trying to find out the strategy that helps us reach the most number of people that we can,” says Lyons.

And that can mean finding new methods for utilizing big events.

“Certainly, auto shows [are] still a place where we try to make news,” says Lyons. “So for instance, earlier this week we talked about Hudson’s, which is our new global headquarters. We also unveiled our test livery for F1 — Cadillac team did.”

In that way, manufacturers say they still find value in auto shows, even if they aren’t quite the spectacle they once were. This year’s Detroit Auto Show is open to the public through Jan. 25.

Detroit’s automakers have scaled back electric vehicle production due to sluggish sales and other factors.

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence says overall EV sales in the U.S. grew by 1% in 2025. That includes plug-in hybrids.

Political pressure hasn’t helped. President Donald Trump favors internal combustion engines and rolled back his predecessor’s push to build more EVs. He rescinded higher fuel economy standards and tried to block federal funding for EV charging stations.

Congress eliminated the $7,500 tax credit for EV buyers, giving consumers less incentive to purchase one.

Despite that, EV advocates see better days ahead.

EVs enjoy high customer satisfaction

Jennifer Mefford is the director of business development for Powering Michigan’s Future. It’s a partnership between the National Electrical Contractors Association and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 58.

Mefford says customer satisfaction gives her hope.

“EV owners love their EVs,” she says. “And the technology is very sound and developed.”

Mefford notes that the market has already survived some ups and downs.

“We had a big resurgence when GM launched the Volt, and then the market kind of went flat,” she says.  “I think we’re poised very well because the technology is there, the battery development is there, and the charging infrastructure is there.”

EVs are still visible

Powering Michigan’s Future has a display at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show. Mefford says it’s there to answer people’s questions about electric vehicles. She says the questions most people have are about charging them.

“80% of your charging is going to be done at home,” she says. “What are the cost considerations for that? Do they want to hook into DTE Energy’s charging rates? How does it work when they’re out in public spaces?”

Mefford says Michigan has done a good job building out its EV charging infrastructure.

“It’s all new equipment,” she says. “It’s very reliable and it’s really quite user-friendly.”

In the early days, EVs suffered from limited range. Mefford says that, too, has gotten better.

“You have a group of vehicles in the 240 to 320-mile range,” she says. “I think ranges are always going to get better, batteries are much more efficient, and costs are coming down.”

But Mefford admits Michigan and the U.S. have a long way to go to catch China, where EV sales grew 17% in 2025.