2014 Chicago Auto Show Begins With Media Preview

CHICAGO, Feb. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This year marks the 106^th edition of the Chicago Auto Show. Prior to opening to the public on Saturday, Feb. 8, the show boasts a two-day Media Preview on Thursday, Feb. 6 and Friday, Feb. 7. 

The Media Preview opens with the Midwest Automotive Media Association breakfast.  Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc. will deliver the keynote address.

Following the MAMA breakfast will be a full day of manufacturer news conferences, announcing the reveal of more than a dozen new cars and trucks.  Introductions are expected from Kia, Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, Chevrolet, Volvo, Volkswagen, BMW and Lingenfelter Performance Engineering.  Also included on the schedule are news conferences from Toyota Motorsports, Maserati, Connected World and Motorweek. 

Splitting the day will be the Economic Club of Chicago Luncheon. Joe Hinrichs, executive vice president of The Americas for Ford Motor Co. will address the more than 700 Economic Club of Chicago members, guests and journalists.

To watch complete coverage of the 2014 Chicago Auto Show Media Preview press conferences, please visit http://www.ustream.tv/channel/chicago-auto-show-2011.  The manufacturer press conferences will also be streamed live on Yahoo Autos at http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/watch-live-reveals-chicago-auto-show-230711872.html.

The second day of the Media Preview, also known as Social Media Preview, will be held on Friday, Feb. 7.  The day will begin with the Word of Mouth Marketing Association Driving Engagement Award breakfast, where the award for the best social media campaign of 2013 will be announced. 

The day will continue with manufacturers, exhibitors and media outlets hosting press and marketing events geared directly toward the buying public – particularly those active in the social media space. Attendees will participate in a social media scavenger hunt and are required to use hashtag #CASChallenge when completing each challenge.  

The Chicago Auto Show has also teamed up with Digital Megaphone, a local organization that connects brands and bloggers through cutting edge social media summits and challenges, to host a Vine/Instagram video challenge.

"The Chicago Auto Show's balance of a strong media preview with a public show that delivers is a potent mix for the auto industry," said Dave Sloan, Chicago Auto Show general manager.  "Keeping things in perspective, the auto show is so much more than a strong media preview; it's also about selling cars and generating excitement for the automobile. That's why it is so important for auto shows to turn up the volume not only during the media preview, but for the public show as well."

For more information about the Chicago Auto Show, please visit www.chicagoautoshow.com.

About the Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is the largest on the continent, spanning more than 1 million square feet of production, concept, and exotic vehicle exhibit space. In addition to hosting multiple world and North American vehicle debuts, the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity raises more than $2 million annually for 18 worthy Chicago organizations in a single night. The 2014 public show will be February 8-17. For more information, visit ChicagoAutoShow.com or Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow. Media can register for the Chicago Auto Show Media Preview at chicagoautoshow.com/media/

About The Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Founded in 1904, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is the nation's oldest and largest metropolitan dealer organization. It is comprised of more than 400 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ nearly 20,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information, visit CATA.info.

SOURCE Chicago Auto Show