CHICAGO — The 2025 Chicago Auto Show came to a successful close on Monday, February 17th after a 10-day run at McCormick Place. The 117th edition of the show welcomed nearly 217,000 attendees to experience the latest cars, trucks and SUVs, automotive technology and electric vehicles — producing a record number of in-vehicle experiences of more than 100,000.
This year’s show featured an array of vehicles new to show attendees including the debut of the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid, 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness and the 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S Limited. Manufacturers including Polestar, Rivian and VinFast participated in the Chicago Auto Show for the very first time.
Also participating in the Chicago Auto Show; the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, the Chicago Police Department, Cook County Sheriff’s Department, the Illinois State Police and the Chicago Office of Emergency Management & Communications.
Four indoor test tracks provided consumers ample opportunities to experience the latest vehicles. The fan-favorite Camp Jeep track returned and celebrated its 20th anniversary at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show. Without even leaving the show floor, attendees experienced Camp Jeep’s thrill rides on an interactive indoor off-road course featuring Cherokee, Gladiator, Wagoneer and Wrangler. A Chicago Auto Show staple since 2005, Camp Jeep has provided more than 600,000 test rides at the show.
Ford also brought back its popular “Built Wild” indoor test track which featured the Bronco family of vehicles and gave attendees the thrill of conquering “Bronco Mountain,” a 38-degree hill inside of the show. Powered by ComEd, Chicago Drives Electric’s indoor EV track expanded from one track to two this year and featured a dozen total brands offering ride-alongs in 25 different models.
“The Chicago Auto Show is designed with consumers at the forefront, and the 2025 show was a true testament to our commitment to delivering a dynamic and engaging experience for every attendee that comes through the doors,” said Chicago Auto Show General Manager Jennifer Morand. “From hands-on experiences to showcasing the most innovative advancements in the industry, the show is all about connecting people with the technology and vehicles that are shaping the future.”
Between the show’s four indoor test tracks as well as outdoor test drive experiences by Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Jeep, Ram, Subaru and Tesla, the show produced more than 100,000 in-vehicle driving experiences, setting a new record.
Presented by Powering Chicago, Rivian and the U.S. Army, the second annual Automotive Career Day hosted more than 700 students for a lively morning filled with educational panels, networking and a career fair featuring local automotive employers and student-led engineering organizations. Moderated by ABC 7 Chicago’s Diane Pathieu, students heard from a range of speakers from manufacturers, such as BMW and Rivian, to local universities featuring the Illini Solar Car Team, Illini EV Concept and UIC Society of Engineers.
Fans’ engagement translated to social media as well. Initial Meltwater data reports the Chicago Auto Show's message reached more than 93 million over the last 90 days with more than 600 YouTube videos produced to date. Chicago Auto Show social channels alone generated more than seven million impressions with the overall sentiment being positive. Many fans have been excited about the return of manufacturers and new spaces at the show across all social platforms.
The 2025 Chicago Auto Show saw support from new and returning sponsors. 2025 premier partners included Cars.com and ComEd along with supporting sponsorships from NASCAR Chicago, AT&T, Shell Recharge and U.S. Army. Joining the sponsorship line-up in 2025 were Drive Chicago, Bally’s Chicago and the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.