For more than a decade, DriveChicago.com has been a pivotal platform in aiding the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) in connecting in-market car shoppers with its dealer members. Today, through strategic partnerships with Automotive Internet Media (AIM), AutoSales.com, and WebBuy Digital Retailing, DriveChicago.com unveils a completely revamped website, offering a significantly enhanced user experience that directly links shoppers to specific vehicle detail pages on dealer websites.
Maintaining its core mission, DriveChicago.com aims to capture in-market vehicle shoppers and seamlessly direct them to CATA member dealers. Complementary to this mission is the advancement of CATA's marketing initiatives, including BBQ for the Troops, the Chicago Auto Show, and Chicago Drives Electric. Leveraging AIM's digital marketing prowess and WebBuy’s innovative digital retailing platform, the redesigned DriveChicago.com optimizes the search and discovery process, ensuring vehicle shoppers are efficiently guided to CATA-member websites.
Building on a decade-long partnership with AIM, DriveChicago.com now employs cutting-edge cloud-based database management and web hosting software. The redesigned site boasts enhanced focus and remarkable speed, delivering vehicle listings instantaneously. Unlike other online shopping portals, DriveChicago.com facilitates a seamless shopping experience, directing users right to the dealer's doorstep. Upon clicking a vehicle listing, users are instantaneously redirected to the dealership's website.
DriveChicago.com exclusively features the new and used inventory of CATA dealer members, with search results determined solely by user-filter options. There are no priority, sponsored, or featured listings – all inventory is displayed based solely on the users preferences. This transformation reaffirms DriveChicago.com's commitment to its users and partners, creating a more efficient, user-centric platform that enhances the car shopping experience.
“As a marketing tool for the CATA, DriveChicago.com has always been a significant benefit for CATA dealer members, but the new site will step up the delivery of in-market shoppers directly to CATA dealer websites,” said Mark Bilek, General Manager of DriveChicago.com. “Utilizing best-in-class marketing and digital retailing tools, DriveChicago.com is perfectly positioned to help CATA member dealers cultivate and capture in-market shoppers.”
The engine driving traffic to DriveChicago.com is AIM’s CarClicks digital marketing platform. CarClicks identifies and targets in-market shoppers who have already expressed their intent to purchase, directing them to matching vehicles on DriveChicago.com. By doing so, CarClicks efficiently channels more than 30,000 highly engaged auto shoppers directly to CATA member dealer websites each month – all at a fraction of the cost of traditional digital marketing. More importantly, CarClicks steers online shoppers away from third-party platforms, delivering them directly to individual dealer websites, which traditionally offer the best return on investment (ROI).
As consumers increasingly gravitate toward a fully digital car-buying experience, DriveChicago.com and AIM have partnered with WebBuy to deliver an all-in-one retailing solution. The platform guides customers through every step of the process – from trade-in valuation and loan approval to accessories selection and vehicle purchase – in a streamlined, user-friendly format. Designed to be customizable and dealer-focused, WebBuy ensures a convenient experience for buyers while also helping to maximize dealers’ profitability. Combined with the additional traffic generated by AIM, WebBuy maximizes the likelihood of turning DriveChicago.com visitors into qualified leads, helping CATA dealers remain competitive in today’s fast-changing digital marketplace.
“DriveChicago.com is setting a new standard for aggregate-inventory sites by putting the power of full online transactions in the hands of local dealerships,” said Steve Zabawa, CEO of WebBuy. “We’re thrilled to partner with them and bring our cutting-edge technology to their platform, helping Chicago dealers thrive in the competitive digital marketplace.”
In the coming months, AutoSales, Inc. plans to roll out similar vehicle-shopping portals in collaboration with new car dealer associations nationwide. This initiative will provide these associations with a highly effective marketing tool for their members, while also serving as a significant revenue-generating opportunity for the associations.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has started to sue employers who it claims are not complying with the reasonable accommodation requirements of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). In light of the flurry of EEOC litigation, employers should be mindful of 4 things they should not do.
The following are state law updates that Illinois employers need to be aware of. Unless otherwise noted, the changes are effective January 1, 2025.
Enhanced Workplace Rules for Minors Under 16
AI Added to Human Rights Act
Voluntary Use of E-Verify Prohibited
Amendments to the BIPA
Amendments to Temporary Workers Law
The Illinois Day and Temporary Labor Services Act has been amended for the third time in the last year. The amendments clarify employers' and staffing agencies' obligations on equal pay, notices, and more.
Equal-Pay Requirement
Responsibility for Determining Equal Pay
The amendments also clarify that it is the temporary staffing agency's responsibility to determine the amount of equal pay due, based on information provided by the third-party client, and to pay the temporary laborer correctly.
Collective Bargaining Agreement Exemption
Under the amendments, the equal-pay provision does not apply if the "comparator" employees (the third-party client's directly hired employees) are covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement.
Equivalent Benefits
The IDTLSA purports to entitle temporary laborers to a certain level of benefits after assignment to a third-party client for a certain amount of time. However, the provision remains enjoined and not in effect. The Illinois Department of Labor has appealed that decision. The case is pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Amendments to Non-Compete Law
In the meantime, we are also monitoring two house bills that would further amend the Illinois Freedom to Work Act: HB 4888, which provides that a non-compete or a non-solicit is not enforceable if it restricts an employee's ability to exercise his or her rights under federal law, and HB 5385, which would void all non-competes and non-solicits, regardless of the employee's annual compensation. Both of these bills have been referred to the Rules Committee.
If dealers have any questions or concerns, we recommend they contact SESCO (a free CATA benefit) to ensure compliance. For assistance, contact us at 423-764-4127 or by email at sesco@sescomgt.com
Last week, CATA Chairman Jason Roberts, CATA President Jennifer Morand, CATA EVP Chris Konecki, along with NADA Board Member Joe Massarelli (Liberty Auto City), traveled to D.C. to attend the annual NADA Washington Conference. It was a busy, successful couple days of meetings on Capitol Hill with key legislators and/or their Chief of Staff, including Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Congressman Robin Kelly, Congressman Mike Quigley, and Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin.
The NADA briefed the CATA team on the key federal issues to relay to the legislators. The primary issues communicated were:
The team did a wonderful job communicating these messages that were heard loud and clear in Washington!
Earlier this week, Hyundai Hope On Wheels, along with Chicago Auto Show Chairwoman and Webb Auto Group Dealer Kelly Webb Roberts, presented Lurie Children's a $400,000 Hope Grant and $250,000 Hyundai Young Investigator Grant. The Hope Grant and Hyundai Young Investigator Grant were presented to Dr. Loretta Li and Dr. Kevin McNearny from Lurie Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders during a check presentation and Handprint Ceremony, the signature event of Hyundai Hope On Wheels, in which local children impacted by pediatric cancer dip their hands in paint and place their handprints on a white Hyundai Hope On Wheels vehicle to commemorate their personal stories of hope.
CATA Member Dealer River Front Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram opened the first Dedicated Ram Truck Center in the Midwest. The center is set to cater exclusively to the sales, service, and customization needs of Ram Trucks and ProMaster Vans, further enhancing the dealership’s commitment to delivering specialized care and expertise for its truck and commercial van customers.
Located at 1851 Orchard Gateway Blvd., North Aurora, IL 60542, this state-of-the-art facility is a one-stop shop designed to meet the growing demand for Ram's lineup of heavy-duty trucks and ProMaster vans, both for personal and commercial use. Whether you're in the market for a powerful Ram Truck, or the versatile ProMaster Van, the center is fully equipped with a wide inventory, dedicated service bays, and expert technicians focused solely on Ram vehicles.
"Our new Ram Truck Center offers a truly unique experience for our customers," said Corey Spooner, General Manager of River Front Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. "From the moment they step inside, truck and van owners will find a dedicated team of specialists who understand the needs of these vehicles. This allows us to provide a superior level of service, sales, and support that’s unmatched in the region."
For any electric vehicle owner that would like a passenger license plate on their vehicle there will be an addition $100 surcharge on the registration.
Fees
Random-Number License Plate Fees Newly acquired vehicle/first-time issuance - $316 ($165 title fee + $151 registration fee) Currently titled vehicle/first-time issuance - $151 registration fee Current plates expire within 90 days - $180
Random-Number License Plate Fees
Newly acquired vehicle/first-time issuance - $316 ($165 title fee + $151 registration fee)
Currently titled vehicle/first-time issuance - $151 registration fee
Current plates expire within 90 days - $180
For more information, contact Joey White at Vitu.
On September 23, NADA Dealer Stellantis Representatives, NADA Executives, NADA’s Industry Relations team and members of the Stellantis National Dealer Council met with Carlos Zarlenga, Stellantis NA COO, and other key executives to share the results of the NADA Summer Dealer Attitude Survey and discuss dealer dissatisfaction that was made public in recent weeks.
Key issues were market share loss, rising inventories, dealer profitability, product quality and product pricing. Executive departures and multiple rounds of layoffs were also cited as contributing to dealer dissatisfaction. Dealers recommended the brand take bold and immediate action, simplify operations, and communicate a plan for future success.
Mr. Zarlenga listened carefully as the dealers in attendance fleshed out aspects of each concern. He responded that current issues had developed over time and have had long term impacts. He said the brand could not ask for blind trust from dealers and must earn trust back over time.
What’s Next: Dealers asked for Stellantis to share a plan that will result in an improved partnership and offer hope and assurances for the future. NADA will continue to support the actions of the Stellantis dealer council and monitor dealer feedback for reactions to Stellantis’ marketplace actions. NADA will directly re-engage with Stellantis as required.
Compliance Alert: What Dealerships Need to Know About Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Requirements
[From NADA] Under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which went into effect on January 1, 2024, many business owners are required to file corporate transparency reports with beneficial ownership information (BOI) no later than January 1, 2025.
The CTA reporting mandates are designed to bolster transparency and combat financial crimes. Those who fail to meet this deadline could face up to two years imprisonment and fines up to $10,000, in addition to civil penalties of up to $591 per day.
Who needs to file:The CTA’s reporting requirements apply to “reporting companies,” which includes corporations, limited liability companies and any other entities created by the filing of a document with a secretary of state or any similar office in the U.S.
Important deadlines:
To learn more about this reporting requirement, NADA is hosting a webinar on October 31 at 1:00 p.m. Stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, please also see the resources below.
Northwoods University is encouraging dealers to consider nominating a deserving dealer principal for a Dealer Education Award. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to automotive marketing education over several years.
Key points to consider when submitting a nomination:
The awards breakfast will be held during the NADA Convention in New Orleans on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 6:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.
Chicago Automobile Trade Association18W200 Butterfield Rd. Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 (630) 495-2282
EMAIL US
Copyright © Chicago Automobile Trade Association.