Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and business leaders attending the ongoing 2026 Detroit Auto Show stressed the significance of promoting technological development and increasing flexibility in business operations to tackle some of the most urgent challenges confronting the U.S. auto industry.

The event, scheduled to run from Jan 14 to 25, has brought together a full slate of major automotive brands.

At the opening day of the event, the former U.S. Transportation Secretary attended a sideline forum and shared his views on the situation of the U.S. auto industry, criticizing that policies rolled out by the administration of President Donald Trump blocks the development of the sector.

"It`s disorienting for automakers, it`s problematic for auto workers, and it`s, you know, frankly self-defeating for anybody who says they want to keep American industry at the cutting edge. Let`s be very clear, the President has basically ordered the auto industry to move backward technologically. I can`t think of any time when America or any other country succeeded economically by moving backward technologically," said Buttigieg.

Besides, the event also drew some of the most advanced vehicles, with the Dodge Charger winning the 2026 North American Car of the Year award, and the Hyundai Palisade winning the utility award after fierce competition.

Leaders from the award-winning automakers said that as they face growing uncertainties in operating their business globally, they believe increasing flexibility would help them tackle headwinds and better meet the demand of customers.

"These are the challenges of running a global business, right? You`re going to have different administrations. You`re going to have different challenges. They come across. As they come across, so what you have to do is have flexibility in your system, flexibility in your manufacturing, flexibility in your power trains, such that you can adjust as necessary and don`t have to flip-flop strategy that should be based on consumer demand," said Olabisi Boyle, senior vice president of product planning and mobility strategy for Hyundai Motor North America.

"I think we`re going to continue to see it evolve. I think the technology is here to stay. It`s going to fluctuate over the next coming years, and with this platform, we can flex to meet that demand," said Matt McAlear, CEO of Dodge.