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Cody Thacker, head of electrification for Audi of America, delivered the keynote address at the annual Economic Club of Chicago (ECC) luncheon at the Chicago Auto Show Media Preview on Thursday, Feb. 6.

Thacker and his team are focused on identifying relevant technology and EV ecosystem partners, promoting partnerships that are meaningful to the electric vehicle customer, and developing future business models and mobility offers for deployment within the Audi network. Additionally, Thacker is responsible for developing infrastructure to facilitate the sales and service of electric vehicles within Audi's network of retail dealers.

"Not only is EV proliferation adoption possible, but owning an EV that's fully capable and can do everything that an internal combustion engine vehicle can do is totally possible today," said Thacker. "I urge you to come along on the journey with me."

"Chicago is the seventh largest market for Audi, Thacker continued. "I think that would surprise a lot of people given that it is a cold climate. It's the Midwest, middle America; you don't anticipate EV adoption being so high here and still think of it as a coastal phenomenon. Chicago is a fantastic market for us."

Past ECC Luncheon speakers include Bill Ford, Dan Ammann, Jim Press, Henrik Fisker, Ralph Gilles, Jonathan Browning, José Muñoz, Yoshi Inaba, Hinrich Woebcken and Joachim Eberhardt.

Founded in 1927 to serve as a forum for Chicago's business community, the ECC is one of Chicago's finest business groups and has had a decade-long association with the Chicago Auto Show. The ECC has grown to become a premier institution, providing elite members of the business world with a platform to express and discuss economic, business and social issues. 

For more information on the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com. For high resolution photos and b-roll, visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com/media/online-newsroom-gallery.

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