Join the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) and the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) as we recharge into Chicago Drives Electric for a comprehensive look at the vehicles and technology that’s driving the EV revolution.

Please join us on Thursday, September 28th from 7:15 AM to 4:00 PM at CATA Headquarters where you’ll have the opportunity to drive and compare EVs and PHEVs from a wide range of manufacturers including Alfa Romeo, Audi, Cadillac, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo. We’ll also have a panel discussion on the state of EVs today with sponsors from Cars.com, CDK Global, ComEd, and Powering Chicago.

Media will have the opportunity to drive electric vehicles on 15 to 20-minute drive routes.

The event will take place in alignment with National Drive Electric Week, and will kick off consumer days of Chicago Drives Electric onsite at CATA over the weekend.

AGENDA:

Broadcast media welcome at any time throughout the day for live interviews and b-roll.

7:15 a.m. – Media registration opens

7:30-8:00 a.m. – Continental Breakfast & Networking

8:30-9:30 a.m. – Panel Discussion/Q&A: The Current State of EVs

10:00 a.m.-Noon – EV Test Drives

12:00-1:00 p.m. – Lunch & Presentation by CDK Global

1:00-4:00 p.m. – EV Test Drives

4:00 p.m. – Event Concludes

PARKING:

Please follow signs to park in the East Side of the Hyundai building lot adjacent to the event location. There will be no media parking on the CATA property.

VEHICLES:

EV Workshop Tailored to CATA Dealers

Join us for an afternoon of insightful discussion with leading industry experts providing insights and advice on setting up your business for success in the ever-changing EV market.

Overview

Join fellow CATA dealers for an EV workshop and informative conversations with industry experts on a range of topics including: 

Agenda

2:00-2:15 p.m. – Dealer arrival & welcome

2:15-3:30 p.m. – State of the EV Landscape Discussion & Workshop

3:30-4:00 p.m. – Finding Efficiencies in Dealership Charging Installation by Powering Chicago

4:00-4:15 p.m. – PlugStar EV Certification Program Overview

4:15-6:00 p.m. – Cars.com Remarks & Dealer Networking Happy Hour

6:00 p.m. – Event Concludes

*Schedule subject to change

Please feel free to add other personnel from your dealership who should be in the EV know. All CATA members are welcome and encouraged to attend!

Is your dealership prepared to meet the challenges of the reinvigorated union movement?  Are your supervisors prepared to educate your employees about the reasons you prefer to remain union-free? Do they know the tell-tale signs to identify potential union organizing activity before organizing efforts go public? 

New rules for organizing workplaces and a very union-friendly administration have emboldened unions to increase organizing efforts across the state and within the automotive industry. This presentation will provide attendees with:

The goal of this session is for dealers to leave with an understanding of labor law compliance and union awareness/organizing efforts and the tools to help them create a workplace where third-party representation is not necessary and where employees feel heard and respected.

Join Ms. Jamie M. Hasty, Vice President of SESCO Management Consultants, for this extremely valuable session.  SESCO is a partner of CATA and offers human resources support and compliance serves to CATA members. 

Understanding how CP Maintenance and Repair work types cooperate is critical to increasing Service Department revenue. Historically, many Service Department’s CP Maintenance and Repair pricing strategies are functioning independently and disjointed because they are viewed as independent of each other. If these pricing strategies aren’t functioning together in your service department, you are leaving money on the table!

In this in-person given by Leigh Silver, CEO of Dynatron Software, you will gain a deeper understanding of managing your CP business as 3 separate CP businesses, giving you the clarity needed to understand and improve ELR, Gross Profit, and Retention.

About the Speaker

Leigh Silver started his Automotive Technology career in 2005 with Service Repair Solutions (SRS - Identifix, MPI, IATN, AutoPoint, ROI) in the role of inside sales for Identifix. In December 2013 he partnered with his father, Les Silver, and acquired a share in the KEEPS Corporation, later becoming President and COO in May 2015. Leigh acquired Dynatron Software in 2016 and was promoted to CEO for KEEPS and Dynatron Software in 2019.