Dear Dealer, As my term in office as 2022-2023 CATA Chairman comes to an end and I take over responsibilities for the 2024 Chicago Auto Show, I would like to reflect on the CATA’s many accomplishments during the past year. After two years of COVID, 2022-2023 brought some normalcy back to the CATA. However, we were not bereft of challenges. On the legal front, we remain hopeful that the legal challenge to Rivian, filed several years ago, will ultimately prevail. We are also extremely supportive of the State of Illinois’ efforts to uphold the recent warranty modifications, which have been challenged in a lawsuit filed against the state by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. The CATA recently responded to a discovery request in this matter. The CATA also responded to a discovery request in the dealer suit brought against Ford Motor Company challenging the legality of Ford programs involving the sale and distribution of electric vehicles. Finally, the CATA settled its litigation with a group of dealers who defected from the New Car Dealer Committee to strike their own agreement with Local 701. We have invited each of those dealers to rejoin the CATA and hopefully avail themselves of the benefits the CATA provides. As we all know, that the Chicago Auto Show is the financial engine that drives many of the CATA activities. The 2023 Auto Show was a greatly enhanced version of the two previous COVID-impacted shows, with increased exhibit space (back to both the North and South halls in McCormick Place), a well-attended and profitable ($2.6 million) First Look for Charity, seven indoor test tracks and four outdoor test drive opportunities and greatly expanded media and social media coverage. Leading the way to the 2023 Chicago Auto Show was a new event, Chicago Drives Electric. Held last fall, the event received terrific media coverage and provided nearly 3,000 in-vehicle experiences for consumers. This event was so well received by OEMs and customers that it was repeated at the end of this past September. The CATA Media Strategy Committee directs approximately $500,000 in CATA funding per year, with extraordinary enhancements provided by our media partners, toward the Chicago Auto Show, Chicago Drives Electric, Barbecue for the Troops, DriveChicago.com and other worthwhile events. The CATA Civic Dealer Relations Committee continued with the 16th year of the Chicagoland Dealers Care program, including the 10th Barbecue for the Troops initiative, bringing the total raised for the USO to more than $1 million. These LETTER FROM 2022-2023 CHAIRMAN Reflecting on Our Accomplishments 10
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