2025 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW COMES TO A SUCCESSFUL CLOSE FOR ITS 117TH EDITION

CHICAGO, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2025 Chicago Auto Show came to a successful close on Monday, Feb. 17, after a 10-day run at McCormick Place. The 117^th edition of the show welcomed nearly 217,000 attendees to experience the latest cars, trucks and SUVs, automotive technology and electric vehicles—producing a record number of in-vehicle experiences of more than 100,000.

The 2025 show featured an array of vehicles new to show attendees including the debut of the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid, 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness and the 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S Limited. Manufacturers including Polestar, Rivian and VinFast participated in the Chicago Auto Show for the very first time.

Other notable new vehicles at the show included the Cadillac Optiq, Cadillac Vistiq, Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, Ford Expedition, 2026 Honda Passport, 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9, Lamborghini Revuelto, Lucid Gravity, Nissan Murano, Nissan Armada, Toyota 4Runner, Rivian R2, Rivian R3X and Volkswagen Tiguan. Concept vehicles also graced the show floor including Chrysler's Halcyon and Acura's Performance EV along with several custom concept SEMA builds from Kia, Jeep and Toyota.

Four indoor test tracks provided consumers ample opportunities to experience the latest vehicles. The fan-favorite Camp Jeep track returned and celebrated its 20th anniversary at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show. Without even leaving the show floor, attendees experienced Camp Jeep's thrill rides on an interactive indoor off-road course featuring Cherokee, Gladiator, Wagoneer and Wrangler. A Chicago Auto Show staple since 2005, Camp Jeep has provided more than 600,000 test rides at the show.

Ford also brought back its popular "Built Wild" indoor test track which featured the Bronco family of vehicles and gave attendees the thrill of conquering "Bronco Mountain," a 38-degree hill inside of the show. Powered by ComEd, Chicago Drives Electric's indoor EV track expanded from one track to two this year and featured a dozen total brands offering ride-alongs in 25 different models.

"The Chicago Auto Show is designed with consumers at the forefront, and the 2025 show was a true testament to our commitment to delivering a dynamic and engaging experience for every attendee that comes through the doors," said Chicago Auto Show General Manager Jennifer Morand. "From hands-on experiences to showcasing the most innovative advancements in the industry, the show is all about connecting people with the technology and vehicles that are shaping the future."

Between the show's four indoor test tracks as well as outdoor test drive experiences by Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Jeep, Ram, Subaru and Tesla, the show produced more than 100,000 in-vehicle driving experiences, setting a new record.

This year's themed days and special events drew large crowds and attracted new audiences to the show. The Toyota Miles Per Hour run once again provided a unique twist for a winter race. Held indoors at the Chicago Auto Show and organized by the Chicago Area Runners Association, more than 700 runners paced a 60-minute run through the show floor for participants to record their own miles per hour. Toyota awarded the top three winners for men's and women's times at its post-run celebration. Over the course of four years, Miles Per Hour logged more than 15,000 miles indoors at the Chicago Auto Show.

Also returning to the show was the popular Chicago Friday Night Flights craft beer sampling event. This one-of-a-kind indoor event drew nearly 400 attendees that sampled different craft beers from more than 20 local breweries as they took in the show. 

Presented by Powering Chicago, Rivian and the U.S. Army, the second annual Automotive Career Day hosted more than 700 students for a lively morning filled with educational panels, networking and a career fair featuring local automotive employers and student-led engineering organizations. Moderated by ABC 7 Chicago's Diane Pathieu, students heard from a range of speakers from manufacturers, such as BMW and Rivian, to local universities featuring the Illini Solar Car Team, Illini EV Concept and UIC Society of Engineers.

The 2025 show saw the success of two new exhibit additions to the show floor. Overlanding Chicago drew consumers into a specialized space focusing on overlanding vehicles and an outdoors adventure-seeking lifestyle. Plus, the Family Zone garnered high foot-traffic, offering families a safe and fun environment that allowed kids to enjoy themselves while being immersed in the auto show experience.

"What's unique about the Chicago Auto Show is its ability to draw audiences spanning a variety of backgrounds, whether or not they are in the market to purchase a new vehicle," said 2025 Chicago Auto Show Chairwoman Kelly Webb Roberts. "The Chicago Auto Show is much more than a showcase of vehicles; it's a dynamic experience that brings together automotive enthusiasts, industry professionals and everyday consumers, creating a space where innovation, passion and curiosity collide."

Fans' engagement translated to social media as well. Initial Meltwater data reports the Chicago Auto Show's message reached more than 93 million over the last 90 days with more than 600 YouTube videos produced to date. Chicago Auto Show social channels alone generated more than seven million impressions with the overall sentiment being positive. Many fans have been excited about the return of manufacturers and new spaces at the show across all social platforms.

Finally, the show saw support from new and returning sponsors. 2025 premier partners included Cars.com and ComEd along with supporting sponsorships from NASCAR Chicago, AT&T, Shell Recharge and U.S. Army. Joining the sponsorship line-up in 2025 were Drive Chicago, Bally's Chicago and the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.

The Chicago Auto Show is already gearing up with plans to return to McCormick Place in February 2026. Tentative dates for the 2026 show are Feb. 5-6 (Media Preview); Feb. 6 (First Look for Charity); and Feb. 7-16, 2026 (public show).

For more information on the Chicago Auto Show, visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com.

About the Chicago Auto Show
First staged in 1901, the Chicago Auto Show is the nation's longest running auto exposition in North America. The show is produced by the Chicagoland's new-car dealer association, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, which has staged the show since 1935. The 2025 public show was held Feb. 8-17 at McCormick Place. For more information and the latest updates, visit ChicagoAutoShow.com.

About the Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Founded in 1904 and located in Oakbrook Terrace, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is comprised of more than 400 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ about 19,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information, please visit www.CATA.info.

SOURCE Chicago Auto Show