Chicago Auto Show to feature announcements from Ford, Volkswagen, Nissan and more
With vehicle introductions from Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, MOPAR, Nissan, Polaris/Slingshot, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen, keynote addresses from Thomas Doll and Hinrich Woebcken and the What Drives Her industry event and luncheon, the Chicago Auto Show Media Preview is poised to deliver industry news.
The Media Preview officially opens Thursday, Feb. 8 with the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) breakfast, presented by the Steel Market Development Institute. MAMA President Jill Ciminillo will present the MAMA Family Vehicle of the Year award and introduce keynote speaker Thomas Doll, president and COO of Subaru of America, Inc.
"The Subaru brand has enjoyed nine consecutive years of growth by delivering the vehicles that people want to drive," said Doll. "We know that the best place for people to experience a vehicle is here at the auto show and the Chicago Auto Show is one of the best I know for giving consumers a great brand experience within a fantastic setting."
Hinrich Woebcken, CEO of the North America Region, Volkswagen and president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., will be the guest speaker at the Economic Club of Chicago (ECC) luncheon, presented by Fifth Third Bank. Woebcken oversees Volkswagen activities in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
"In 2017, Volkswagen started its comeback in the United States, and we think that the Chicago Auto Show is a great venue to introduce the cars and SUVs that will drive our sales growth going forward," said Woebcken. "I am also pleased to be able to share our story with such a prestigious organization as the Economic Club of Chicago."
The second day of the Media Preview, Feb. 10, will feature additional manufacturer news conferences and social media geared events, as well as the What Drives Her industry event and luncheon, presented by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. This event, in its second year, will feature a robust lineup of female speakers who will discuss the integral role women play within the auto industry as contributors, consumers and drivers of purchasing decisions.
"The auto industry is at a critical intersection," said Michelle Krebs, director of automotive for AutoTrader.com and KBB.com, and one of the What Drives Her session moderators. "Women are rising through the leadership ranks to the highest levels at a time when the automotive landscape is on the precipice of massive transformation. Undoubtedly, women will play a key role in shaping the auto industry of the future."
