The Chicago Auto Show is held annually in February at Chicago's McCormick Place convention center. It is the largest auto show in North America.

History

Samuel Miles, formerly a promoter of bicycle shows, produced the first "official" Chicago Automobile Show in 1901. The event was staged in March of that year at the third Chicago Coliseum located at 1513 S. Wabash Avenue. The 1901 show featured an indoor track for attendees to test drive the ten vehicles exhibited: five electric powered, three steam powered, and two with gasoline engines. The 1902 show saw 100 cars on display; the indoor track was discontinued after the first year to accommodate space requirements for the exhibitors. By the late 1920s, the automotive industry's maturation resulted in many smaller automobile manufacturers being acquired or replaced by larger ones. The Chicago Auto Show continued to gain prominence during this era and was often regarded as the "National Auto Show". Samuel Miles retired as the Chicago Auto Show's general manager in 1931 after three decades of service. 1935 was characterized by three major changes to the Chicago Auto Show: The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), the United States' oldest and largest metropolitan automobile dealership organization, became the event's producer and organizer. Also, the show was held twice in calendar year 1935—once in January for the 1935 models, and once in November for the 1936 models. This arrangement was a result of automakers shifting the start of the model year to the fall, based on a recommendation by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to advance the introduction of new automobile models by two months. Finally, the November 1935 show moved to a much larger venue, the International Amphitheatre located at 4220 South Halsted Street. World War II curtailed production of motor vehicles for consumers in the United States, with the domestic automotive industry retooling to manufacture defense and military equipment. As a result, the Chicago Auto Show was not held between 1941 and 1949. In 1961, the Chicago Auto Show moved from the International Amphitheatre to the original McCormick Place. The latter facility was destroyed by fire just a month prior to the 1967 show, so the International Amphitheatre resumed its role as the Chicago Auto Show's venue between 1967 and 1970. The show returned to McCormick Place in 1971, when a replacement building was constructed at the site. Additional expansions to McCormick Place toward the end of the 20th century allowed the Chicago Auto Show to become the largest auto show in the United States. The event currently encompasses more than 1 million square feet in the North and South exhibit halls of McCormick Place. Due to the vast amount of space available, several auto manufacturers have implemented creative uses of their exhibit area in recent years. For example, FCA US, Toyota, and Volkswagen have all configured indoor test track experiences adjacent to their respective vehicle displays. In 2021, CATA received approval to host a special summer edition of the Chicago Auto Show in the West Building of McCormick Place, supplemented by outdoor activities such as test drives and technology demonstrations.

2024

The 2024 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 10 through February 19, with press preview starting on February 8 and the "First Look For Charity" Gala taking place on February 9.

Production car introductions

2023

The 2023 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 11 through February 20, with press preview starting on February 9 and the "First Look For Charity" Gala taking place on February 10.

Production car introductions

Concept car introductions

• auto show debut

2022

The 2022 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 12 through February 21, with press preview starting on February 10 and the "First Look For Charity" Gala taking place on February 11.

Production car introductions

• auto show debut

Concept car introductions

2021

The 2021 Chicago Auto Show was held from July 15 through July 19. The press preview and the "First Look For Charity" Gala events held in previous years were not part of the 2021 show.

Production car introductions

Concept car introductions

• auto show debut

2020

The 2020 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 8 through February 17, with press preview starting on February 6 and the "First Look For Charity" Gala taking place on February 7. The 2020 event concluded before government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois took effect.

Production car introductions

2019

The 2019 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 9 through February 18, with press preview starting on February 7 and the "First Look For Charity" Gala taking place on February 8. Acura hosted a panel discussion to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Acura NS-X concept, which debuted at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show.

Production car introductions

2018

The 2018 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 10 through February 19, with press days starting on February 8 and First Look For Charity taking place February 9.

Production car introductions

Concept car introductions

Race car introductions

2017

The 2017 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 11 through February 20, with press days starting on February 9.

Production car introductions

Concept car introductions

2016

The 2016 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 13 through February 21, with press days starting on February 11.

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Concept car introductions

2015

The 2015 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 14 through February 22 and had a 7 percent increase in attendance compared to 2014. The show's media preview day hosted 18 world premieres including the introduction of the Kia Trail'ster concept as well as production vehicles such as the Acura RDX, Chevrolet Equinox, Honda Pilot and Toyota Avalon.

Production car introductions

Concept car introductions

Race car introductions

2014

The 2014 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 8 through February 17, with press days starting on February 6.

Production car introductions

Concept car introductions

Race car introductions

2013

The 2013 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 9 through February 18, with press days starting on February 7.

Production car introductions

Concept car introductions

2012

The 2012 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 10 through February 19, with press days starting on February 8. Introductions and concepts: In addition to the factory-built Chrysler 300, Mopar also showed three 75th anniversary accessory kits: the Dodge Dart "GTS 210 Tribute", Fiat 500 "Stinger", and Mopar Jeep Compass "True North".

2011

The 2011 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 11 through February 20, with press days starting on February 9. Introductions and concepts:

2010

The 2010 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 12 through February 21, with press days starting on February 10. Introductions and concepts:

2009

The 2009 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 13 through February 22, with press days starting on February 11. Introductions and concepts: Also, the Ford Transit Connect was re-introduced as an official 2010 model, after pre-production units were displayed for the first time in the U.S. at the previous year's show.

2008

The 2008 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 8 through February 17, with press days starting on February 6. Introductions: The show also had a special U.S. Army area, open to the public, which displayed military vehicles and featured Army-related activities and video games.

2007

The 2007 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 9 through February 18, with press days starting on the 7th. Introductions:

2006

The 2006 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 10 through February 19, with press days starting on the 8th. Introductions:

2005

The 2005 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 11 through February 20, with press days starting on the 9th.

Production car introductions

Concept car introductions

2003

The 2003 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 14 through February 23. Introductions:

2002

The 2002 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 8 through February 17. Introductions:

2001

Introductions:

1998

Production car introductions

Concept car introductions

1997

1995

1992

More than 1,000 vehicles were on display, from the automotive manufacturers and other groups.

Production car introductions

Concept car introductions

1991

1990

Production car introductions

Concept cars

1989

The 1989 Chicago Auto Show featured the debut of the Acura NS-X sports car concept, which would lead to the production NSX in 1990. The 1989 Chicago Auto Show featured the debut of the 1989 Syclone concept sports pickup, which would lead to the production of the GMC Syclone in 1991.

1968

Production car introductions

1923

Production car introductions