Chicago Auto Show


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.

Event 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, 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 800,000 square feet in Hall A of McCormick Place's South Building.
Due to the vast amount of space available, auto manufacturers and other event sponsors have implemented creative uses of the exhibit area in recent years. For example, Ford and Stellantis have configured indoor test track experiences adjacent to their respective vehicle displays; Chicago based utility company Commonwealth Edison has worked with CATA and with multiple automakers to establish electric vehicle focused ride and drive opportunities for showgoers; and Toyota has collaborated with Chicago Area Runners Association to sponsor a competitive running event inside McCormick Place during the show.
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. The event returned to its traditional February timeframe the following year.

2026

The 2026 Chicago Auto Show will be held from February 7 through February 16, with a press preview and the "First Look For Charity" Gala both taking place on February 6.

Production car introductions

  • 2025

The 2025 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 8 through February 17, with a press preview starting on February 6 and the "First Look For Charity" Gala on February 7.

Production car introductions

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

Production car introductions

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

* 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

  • Nissan Frontier Project 72X, Project Hardbody, and Project Adventure

    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

* 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

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

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

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