The 2008 Chicago Auto Show to open on 8 February

The 2008 Chicago Auto Show will mark the 100th anniversary of a historic event, now a virtual Mecca for the global auto industry, which first started in 1901; the debut event that ran for a week featured numerous vehicles and accessories displayed by 65 auto firms. 

Held annually in February at McCormick Place, the Chicago Auto Show is the oldest auto exposition in the world, which has been staged more often than any other auto show in North America. The event continues to be one of the most well attended in the world with over one million visitors attend each year. 

The auto show at McCormick Place, located at Lake Shore Drive utilises 1.3 million square feet of the complex out of its 2.7 million square feet of exhibit halls with an additional 700,000 square feet of meeting room facilities.  

The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), the oldest and largest metropolitan dealer organisation in the US has been the official organiser of the event since 1935. 

The event will feature a complete range of domestic and imported passenger cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles, experimental and concept cars. In total, the event will boast nearly 1,000 different vehicles, numerous accessories and auto-related exhibits, competition vehicles, project, antique and collector's cars. 

This year's event opens officially on 8 February and closes on 17 February.