Another barometer of success was the 2023 First Look for Charity black-tie gala. The event surpassed fundraising expectations, bringing in $500,000 more than anticipated, for a total of $2.5 million raised for 18 local charities. The attendee number resembled pre-pandemic attendance, another indicator that the show is growing again. Over the years, First Look for Charity has raised more than $60 million for organizations that need it the most. This is great news for the local dealer community as the Chicago Auto Show directly impacts consumers, piquing interest and — very importantly — driving customers to the dealership. Heading into 2024, we’re on track to win brands back to the show and hope to maintain and even add to the total number of indoor test tracks we had in 2023 (where we had a record-breaking seven indoor test tracks). Leading the way to the 2023 Chicago Auto Show was a new event, Chicago Drives Electric. We launched this event in the fall of 2022 with the intent of enticing consumers to learn about and experience the latest EVs, hybrids and plug-in hybrids in the form of test drives. The event was held at CATA headquarters in Oakbrook Terrace, and its success was overwhelming. Overnight, we filled up all test drive slots, and media came out in droves to cover the event, generating exposure. The branding and excitement carried over to the 2023 Chicago Auto Show in the form of a 100,000 sq. ft. indoor EV track. We held another successful Chicago Drives Electric from September 28 to October 1, which attracted more brands, more vehicles, test drive registrations and overall attendees than the first year. The number of test drive registrations increased by a substantial 50 percent over 2022! We’re excited to bring the EV track and education back to the 2024 Chicago Auto Show this February. Speaking of success, this summer 80 new-car dealers fired up their grills to host the USO Barbecue for the Troops to raise awareness and funds for the local military. This year marked the 10th anniversary, and dealers once again rallied their communities to raise $100,000 for the USO. Last year marked a huge milestone when dealers hit the $1 million dollar mark for the total amount raised since the program’s inception. That truly shows the power and impact of local dealers. Finally, the CATA recently underwent a rebranding/logo redesign project. The refreshed CATA logo was strategically designed to symbolize many of the elements that make up the fabric of this wonderful organization. We hope you like it. We look forward to another great year. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with an idea, a suggestion, feedback or just to say hello. We value you and your membership of the CATA! Sincerely, Jennifer Morand Co-President, CATA 9
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