Recent News

New Website and Smartphone App Build Excitement for the Chicago Auto Show

MEDIA INFORMATION

Contact: Mark Bilek
Senior Director of Communications and Technology
Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Office: (630) 424-6082
Cell: (847) 652-0632
Email: [email protected]

Contact: Jennifer Morand
Director of Public Relations and Social Media
Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Office: (630) 424-6084
Cell: (630) 391-1986
Email: [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW WEBSITE AND SMARTPHONE APP BUILD EXCITEMENT FOR THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW

CHICAGO (December 9, 2015) – The Chicago Auto Show has an all-new website and will launch and accompanying smartphone app in January that are designed to enhance the attendee experience and bring the nation’s largest auto show to life across the globe. The 2016 version of ChicagoAutoShow.com features seamless social media integration, historical videos and bigger, bolder image galleries.

Highlighting its extremely active social media channels, the show’s website features Facebook and Twitter conversations on nearly every page. In addition, the site now hosts a social media wall that’s constantly updated with the latest conversations across all social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Vine and Pinterest. The show’s listing of vehicles on display, photo galleries and videos are designed to take advantage of today’s large, touch-screen monitors while still being responsive enough to remain fully functional on compact mobile devices.

“We want our attendees to connect to the show on every level,” said 2016 Chicago Auto Show Chairman Colin Wickstrom. “We will be providing free high-speed WiFi at the show to allow showgoers to share their experience through social media, our website and our official Chicago Auto Show app.”

To help build excitement for the show, the website features historical videos that have been integrated into its best-in-class “Show History” section. These videos give site visitors a chance to see and experience famous vehicles and concepts as they were first presented on the show floor. Returning features include user-controlled webcams with a live-streaming capability, daily event schedules, show floor maps, online ticket purchases, detailed directions and a newsroom for registered media. Together these elements form a winning combination that engages visitors year-round.

The website’s “Vehicles on Display” section adds real-time inventory from Chicagoland’s new-car dealers, provided by DriveChicago.com. This allows site visitors to sift through more than 40,000 new cars directly on ChicagoAutoShow.com as they are browsing their favorite vehicles.

The show’s updated app is designed to be a digital companion for the attendee, allowing them to request more information on vehicles they see at the show, get instant updates on the daily schedule and connect through beacon technology with exhibitors.

Web development company AmericanEagle.com continues to be a valuable partner in the success of ChicagoAutoShow.com and the official show smartphone app. “The Chicago Auto Show has been a longtime customer of ours and their outstanding team is one of the biggest contributors to the site’s growing and continued success,” said Michael Svanascini, president of Americaneagle.com. "Our goal is to give Chicago Auto Show fans a dynamic, optimal online experience, not only on the show dates but all year round.”

For more information on the 2016 Chicago Auto Show, please visit www.chicagoautoshow.com.    

###

About the Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show 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 America vehicle debuts, the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity raises more than $2 million annually for 18 vital Chicago organizations in a single night. The 2016 public show will be February 13-21. For more information, visit ChicagoAutoShow.com or Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow.

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 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 CATA.info.

Back to News