Governor Rauner Kicks Off 2017 Chicago Auto Show

Contact
Eleni Demertzis
Eleni.Demertzis@illinois.gov

CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner joined Chairman of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association John Hennessy, Chairman of the 2017 Chicago Auto Show Mike McGrath Jr. and other dignitaries to cut the ribbon to kick off the 2017 Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place. The Chicago Auto Show is the longest running show in the country with its 109th edition.

"Illinois has such a rich history with the auto industry," Governor Rauner said. "The Chicago Auto Show is an annual opportunity for us to highlight that Illinois is home to the fourth largest auto employment base in the United States. Not only is this a positive for the auto industry, it also brings hundreds of thousands of visitors into our state and boosts the local economy."

The first Chicago Auto Show took place in 1901. Nearly 1,000 vehicles and a collection of auto-related exhibits for everything from accessories to collector cars were on display.

"The auto industry is the fourth largest employer in Illinois," said Andria Winters, President of Intersect Illinois. "We continue to see an influx of investment and opportunities for those in the automobile industry and their suppliers. This event is a great display of what our state has to offer." Auto and accessory companies have recently invested millions in projects across Illinois. Most notably, Rivian Automotive announced the purchase of the old Mitsubishi plant in Normal to produce their state-of-the-art concept. This project is set to create over 1,000 jobs when they reach full production.