120-Year Tradition North America's Largest 'Chicago Auto Show' 2021 Schedule Indefinitely Postponed

Tom Kearns, Senior Designer at Kia Motors America Design Center (left), and Michael Sprague, Vice President of Marketing at Kia Motors America (KMA), are explaining the concept car Trailster at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show held on the 12th (local time).

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The 'Chicago Auto Show,' boasting the largest scale and longest history in North America, has indefinitely postponed its 2021 exhibition schedule.

On the 8th (local time), the Chicago Auto Show organizers announced that due to the resurgence of COVID-19, "It seems difficult to hold the 2021 event in mid-February next year as per our long-standing tradition," adding, "We hope to hold the exhibition even in late spring."

Mark Bilek, the Auto Show's chief public relations officer, said, "We are working closely with McCormick Place, the Illinois state and Chicago city health authorities to develop plans to hold the event safely and responsibly around the originally scheduled time without significant deviation."

This year's Chicago Auto Show was held for ten days a month before the COVID-19 pandemic, attracting numerous visitors. However, due to the pandemic, large-scale events scheduled to be held at McCormick Place were subsequently canceled one after another.

The organizers expressed hope that "if the COVID-19 vaccine supply proceeds smoothly as expected, the exhibition can be held in late spring next year, even with reduced capacity."

First held in 1901 at the Chicago Coliseum Exhibition Hall, inviting 20,000 local residents, the Chicago Auto Show has grown into the largest event in North America, attracting over one million visitors annually.

Held in the 120,000㎡ exhibition space of McCormick Place, the auto show features participation from over 40 major global automobile manufacturers, including Hyundai and Kia. Approximately 10,000 new vehicles from various brands are showcased here, ranging from sedans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) to practical pickup trucks, futuristic concept cars, and rare 'supercars.'

Meanwhile, the Geneva Motor Show, considered one of the 'world's top five motor shows,' has also announced the cancellation of its exhibition schedule for next year following this year's cancellation, which was usually held every March.

The Detroit Motor Show, originally scheduled for January next year, has postponed its 2021 event by eight months to late September.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.