WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama plans to celebrate the resurgent U.S. auto industry by visiting the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this month.
The industry was in danger of collapse when Obama took office in 2009, but reported a record sales year in 2015.
Nearly 17.5 million American autos were sold, topping the 17.35 million mark in 2000. Analysts expect even higher sales this year as unemployment continues to drop and more younger buyers enter the market.
Obama announced the visit in his weekly radio and Internet address on Saturday. He's expected to attend the show on Jan. 20.
Obama says his much-criticized decision to bail out the industry was the right thing to do. He says he'd make the same bet again any day of the week.
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