Americans still love cars

Business

February 21, 2017

By Yemeng Yang

Boasting the largest attendance of any U.S. auto show, 800,000-plus, the Chicago Auto Show, which ran through Monday, Presidents Day, displayed nearly 1,000 models of new and existing vehicles of major automakers. Attendees said they enjoyed the show because they can see new models that are coming out and be able to try them.

The Chicago Auto Show utilizes more than one million square feet in the McCormick Place to exhibit vehicles. (Yemeng Yang/MEDILL)

Ram’s truck test track, along with four other indoor tracks, take attendees on a ride on special lanes. (Yemeng Yang/MEDILL)

Samison, 85, who declined to give his last name, was an engineer in the Soviet Union. He said he comes to the show “out of interest.” (Yemeng Yang/MEDILL)

People take selfies during the show. (Yemeng Yang/MEDILL)

Kimberly Brown and her husband, Kirby Brown, check the trunk of a car. They plan to buy a car next year. (Yemeng Yang/MEDILL)

A sport-utility vehicle is popular among attendees although its doors are locked. (Yemeng Yang/MEDILL)

Attendees line up to take photos with Zach Miller, tight end for the Chicago Bears, who appears on the Toyota Live Stage. (Yemeng Yang/MEDILL)

Two kids experience virtual off-road driving on a special machine provided by Ford. (Yemeng Yang/MEDILL)

Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles enjoy huge popularity during the show, but some attendees say they’re too expensive. This BMW i8 runs $141,695. “I can buy my house with this amount of money,” says one visitor. (Yemeng Yang/MEDILL)

Photo at top: The symbol of the Chicago Auto Show at the entrance of the exhibition halls. (Yemeng Yang/MEDILL)