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  • More than 80 Chicagoland New-Car Dealers Rally Together for Drive for the Troops Fundraiser this July

    Tuesday, June 24, 2025 9:30 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    CHICAGO (June 24, 2025) – Chicagoland’s new-car dealers are once again on a summertime mission to raise awareness and funds for local military and their families through the 12th annual Drive for the Troops fundraiser.  Throughout the entire month of July, more than 80 dealerships across the area will join in hosting online fundraisers and onsite events at their dealerships to benefit the USO.

    Since the program’s inception, Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) dealers have rallied to raise more than $1.2 million to support USO programs and services.

    “Rallying behind our local service members and their families is something that continues to unite our communities, and the USO remains an essential partner in that mission,” said Ryan Kelly, Chicago Automobile Trade Association chairman. “Our local new-car dealers have shown time and again that they’re not just in the business of selling cars—they’re committed community leaders. The collective impact of this decade-long fundraiser has been remarkable, and we’re thankful to everyone who continues to help drive its success.”

    Kelly continued, “If you are looking for a way to give back this summer, we invite you to join in the fundraising efforts with your local new-car dealer by stopping by one of the many events taking place or making an online donation to the cause.”

    “The continued support from hometown communities and local new-car dealerships has enabled the USO to make a meaningful impact on the lives of more than 300,000 service members and their families each year,” said Christopher Schmidt, Executive Director at the USO. “Thanks to hundreds of programs, services, and our USO Centers across Illinois, we're able to stay connected with those who serve. Events like Drive for the Troops are a powerful example of neighbors coming together to support one another, and attending your local dealership’s fundraiser this July or donating online is a fantastic way to get involved.”

    “On behalf of the USO and the military service members we proudly support, we extend our sincere thanks to all participating dealers and the generous communities behind them,” Schmidt added.

    Fundraising will be active online throughout the entire month of July. Those interested can make a donation online at https://p2p.onecause.com/drive2025.

    To find the full listing of participating CATA dealers and local fundraising events, visit https://drivechicago.com/CustomPage/2/drive-for-the-troops. For more information about the USO, visit Illinois.USO.org.

    ###

    About the Chicago Automobile Trade Association

    Founded in 1904, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is one of the nation’s largest metropolitan dealer organizations. It is comprised of more than 420 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group’s dealer members employ about 19,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world-famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information please visit www.CATA.info.

    About USO

    The USO is the leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the well-being of the people serving in America's military and their families. Since 1941, the USO has been by the side of service members throughout their military service. Impactful support is provided through our 250+ locations around the world, a robust care package delivery program, global entertainment, military spouse and youth programming, and much more, all made possible by donors, corporate partners, volunteers and staff. To learn more and support our critical mission around the globe, please visit USO.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram and LinkedIn. 


  • Important CATA Dealer Membership Notice

    Thursday, May 29, 2025 1:18 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    We would like to inform all members of an upcoming change to the annual membership dues. On May 20, the Board of Directors approved an increase in dues from $800 to $1,000.

    This change will take effect beginning July 1, 2025.

    As part of this increase, $150 of the new dues amount will be allocated to a dedicated legal defense fund. This fund is being established to help the organization address extraordinary legal needs that may arise and to ensure we are prepared to safeguard the interests of our members into the future. Examples are protecting the Warranty Reimbursement Act and fighting legacy OEMs from selling direct-to-consumer in Illinois (i.e. VW’s Scout or Honda’s Afeela).  

    The decision to increase dues was made with careful consideration by the CATA Board of Directors and reflects CATA’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the strength and sustainability of our organization.

    Secondly, as part of ongoing efforts to streamline administrative processes and improve service to our members, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) will begin transitioning all membership dues to align with CATA’s fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30.

    Beginning in June, the CATA will initiate a phased transition to move all membership renewal dates to July 1. This change will ensure a consistent membership cycle across the organization and improve efficiency in planning, budgeting and communication.

    How This Affects Members:

    • Members with June 2025 renewal dates will be the first to renew on the new July 1 cycle.
    • Members with July 2025 renewal dates will remain the same.
    • Members with renewal dates of August 1, 2025, or later will receive advance notifications and a prorated dues rate to adjust their membership to the new cycle.

    All new dealer membership applications will be subject to the full $1,000 annual dues amount and will be aligned with the July 1 renewal cycle. This approach allows for a gradual and equitable shift without disrupting member benefits.

    CATA will communicate directly with all affected members well in advance of any changes to ensure clarity and a smooth transition.

    If you have any questions about how this change might affect your membership, please contact the CATA. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to serving you more effectively through this improved system.

  • Important CATA Allied Membership Notice

    Thursday, May 29, 2025 1:00 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    As part of ongoing efforts to streamline administrative processes and improve service to our members, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) will begin transitioning all membership dues payments to align with CATA’s fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30.

    Beginning in June, the CATA will initiate a phased transition to move all membership renewal dates to July 1. This change will ensure a consistent membership cycle across the organization and improve efficiency in planning, budgeting and communication.

    How This Affects Members:

    • Allied members with June and July 2025 renewal dates will be the first to renew on the new July 1 cycle.
    • Allied members with renewal dates of August 1, 2025, or later will receive advance notifications and a prorated dues rate to adjust their membership to the new cycle.

    CATA will communicate directly with all affected members well in advance of any changes to ensure clarity and a smooth transition. If you have any questions about how this change might affect your membership, please contact the CATA directly at 630-495-2282.

    We appreciate your continued support and look forward to serving you more effectively through this improved system.

  • Drive for the Troops: Support the USO this July

    Friday, May 23, 2025 1:17 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    With summer just around the corner, we are excited to once again come together in July to support the USO and our local troops. Now in its 12th year, the BBQ for the Troops program has been a long-standing tradition with the USO that has brought all Chicagoland dealers together for a great cause.

    The program has changed and evolved over the years, and just like anything, it’s time that we update our branding and program structure to match that! This year, we are rebranding BBQ for the Troops to Drive for the Troops.

    Learn more and sign up here. 

  • DriveChicago.com Re-Launches Nation’s Only Association-Run Automotive Marketplace

    Tuesday, January 07, 2025 8:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    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.

  • Don't Do These 4 Things to Avoid a Pregnancy Discrimination Charge

    Monday, October 28, 2024 9:44 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    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.

    • Don’t just follow your old ADA procedures in pregnancy accommodation cases. At most, all you can request is (1) confirmation of the pregnancy, and (2) recommended accommodations that would be helpful under the circumstances. Also, there is an entire class of what the EEOC calls “predictable assessment” accommodations that generally have to be granted with no consultation with a health care provider (assuming the pregnancy has been confirmed). These are (1) allowing the employee to carry or keep drinking water nearby, (2) allowing the employee to take extra bathroom breaks, (3) allowing the employee to sit (if in a standing job) or to stand (if in a sitting job), and (4) allowing the employee to take extra breaks for eating or drinking.
    • Don’t require a pregnant employee to take a leave of absence instead of accommodating her on the job. Requiring a leave of absence is generally going to violate the PWFA. The only exceptions are (1) when you’ve engaged in the interactive process with the employee before requiring the leave, or (2) when the employee herself prefers to take a leave.
    • Don’t think that your pregnancy accommodation obligation will not start before pregnancy or be over immediately after birth. In addition to the gestational period, employers also have to be willing to consider accommodations, if requested, for: the period during which the employee is trying to get pregnant; the period of maternity leave an employee needs for their own medical condition; accommodations after the new mom returns to work, including but not limited to lactation accommodations; time off for miscarriages, stillbirths, or abortions.
    • Don’t let the FMLA control all decisions. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires covered employers to give employees unpaid leave of up to 12 weeks under certain circumstances. Prenatal care and maternity leave are among the many qualifying reasons for FMLA leave. Unfortunately, a lot of employers who are covered by the FMLA think that are ok as long as they have (1) complied with their FMLA obligations, or (2) determined that the FMLA doesn’t apply (for example, because the employee isn’t eligible yet). This has been a longstanding trap for employers in disability cases. It’s not unusual for an employer to focus exclusively on the FMLA and fail to consider disability-related reasonable accommodations under the ADA or other applicable disability rights laws. For example, an employer may terminate an employee who needs time off for cancer treatment because the employee hasn’t hit the full 12 months required for FMLA eligibility. Denying FMLA leave to an employee who is not eligible for FMLA leave doesn't violate the FMLA, but failure to grant the leave as a disability accommodation would violate the ADA.
    For more information, contact SESCO by 1-800-764-4127; sesco@sescomgt.com or via your Consultant of Record, Ms. Jamie M. Hasty, Vice President, jamie@sescomgt.com or 804-931-6281

  • Changes In Illinois Employment Law

    Tuesday, October 15, 2024 9:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    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

    • Employers are required to obtain an employment certificate authorizing a minor’s work. To obtain a certificate, an employer must first provide the minor with a notice of intention to employ, which then must be submitted by the minor to their school’s issuing officer, along with an application for the employment certificate, which must be filled out by the minor and their parent or guardian.
    • Employers must maintain, for at least the duration of the minor’s employment at the premises, the minor’s employment certificate, plus records that include the minor’s name, date of birth, address, and the notice of intention to employ the minor at the premises where the minor is performing the work.
    • In addition to the prohibited occupations found in the Federal Labor Standards Act, there are over 30 additional types of work that minors are prohibited from performing, including factory work and construction work.
    • All minors must be supervised in person by an adult 21 years of age or older at all times when the minor is working.

    AI Added to Human Rights Act

    • The Illinois Human Rights Act has been amended by adding certain uses of artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI (GenAI), to the long list of actions by covered employers that could constitute civil rights violations.
    • The amendments will take effect January 1, 2026, and add two new definitions to the law.
    • According to the amendments, AI means “a machine-based system that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from the input it receives, how to generate outputs such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical or virtual environments.”
    • The definition of AI includes GenAI, which has its own definition: “an automated computing system that, when prompted with human prompts, descriptions, or queries, can produce outputs that simulate human-produced content, including, but not limited to, the following: 1) textual outputs, such as short answers, essays, poetry, or longer compositions or answers; 2) image outputs, such as fine art, photographs, conceptual art, diagrams, and other images; 3) multimedia outputs, such as audio or video in the form of compositions, songs, or short-form or long-form audio or video; and 4) other content that would be otherwise produced by human means.”
    • According to the amendments, covered employers can violate the act in two ways. First, an employer that uses AI with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure, or the terms, privileges, or conditions of employment and whose actions have the effect of subjecting employees to discrimination on the basis of protected classes under the act may constitute a violation. The same may be true for employers that use ZIP codes as a proxy for protected classes. Second, a covered employer that fails to provide notice to an employee that the employer is using AI for the purposes described above may be found to have violated the law.

    Voluntary Use of E-Verify Prohibited

    • Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has signed Senate Bill 0508 into law. This new law provides additional employment protections for individuals flagged by an employment eligibility verification system, including federal E-Verify, as having identification discrepancies.
    • SB 0508 clarifies an employee’s rights in the event of an E-Verify “no match.” The new law will prevent employers from imposing work authorization verification requirements that are greater than those required by federal law.
    • Illinois employers are no longer be permitted to voluntarily use employment eligibility verification systems – e.g.,  E-Verify –  to confirm the I-9 authentication process, unless required by federal law.

    Amendments to the BIPA

    • Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has signed Senate Bill 2979, which amends the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The bill confirms that a private entity that more than once collects or discloses the same biometric identifier or biometric information from the same person via the same method of collection in violation of the BIPA has committed a single violation for which an aggrieved person is entitled to, at most, one recovery.
    • In addition, the bill also adds “electronic signature” to the definition of written release, clarifying that an electronic signature constitutes a valid written release under the BIPA.
    • The amendments take effect immediately.

    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

    • Amount of work: The amendments clarify the amount of work that entitles a temporary laborer to equal pay. The original law stated the equal-pay requirement was effective once a temporary laborer had been "assigned" to a third-party client for 90 days. Equal pay is instead required after a temporary laborer "performs more than 720 hours of work in a 12-month period" for a third-party client, with the clock starting on April 1, 2024.
    • How to compute: The original law required equal pay to be determined using the rate of either (a) the third-party client's lowest paid, directly hired, similarly situated employee with the same or substantially similar seniority to the temporary laborer; or (b) the lowest paid, directly hired employee with the closest level of seniority to the temporary laborer (the "comparator"). The amendments still allows this "comparator" method, but as another alternative, for temporary laborers to be paid the median wages: of workers working in the same or a substantially similar job classification, as reflected in the detail level of the most recent Standard Occupational Classification System published by the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS], in the same metropolitan area or non-metropolitan area of Illinois where the work is performed, as reflected in the most recent Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Survey. Under this new option, once a temporary laborer has worked for the third-party client for 4,160 hours during a 48-month period, the required wages then increase from the median to the 75th percentile in the BLS data.

    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

    • The first amendment renders any covenant not to compete or covenant not to solicit entered into after January 1, 2022, unenforceable with respect to professionals licensed in Illinois who provide mental health services to veterans and first responders.
      • The second amendment provides that a covenant not to compete or not to solicit is void and illegal with respect to individuals employed in construction, regardless of whether an individual is covered by a bona fide collective bargaining agreement.
      • The amendments take effect immediately.

    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

  • CATA Attends Meetings with Key Legislators on Capitol Hill

    Friday, September 27, 2024 9:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    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:

    1. FTC “Vehicle Shopping Rule” will overwhelm car buyers and small businesses with needless additional costs, paperwork (non-disclosure forms) and an overall lengthened sales process (estimated to be an additional 60-80 mins. longer than the current average time spent in a dealership). They urged members of Congress to cosponsor the FTC REDO Act to stop the flawed Vehicle Shopping Rule and avoid needlessly imposing significant burdens and costs on both the consumer and small business dealers.
    2. Legislators were made aware of the dealers’ stance on the current EPA De Facto EV Mandate which reaches too far and too fast. The EV infrastructure simply isn’t in place to require 56% of all new vehicle sales to be electric by 2032. Furthermore, the current EV prices are too high for the average consumer. The dealers are behind EVs and have already invested in EV infrastructure in their showrooms and in personnel to train them on the latest technology as it relates to sales and service, but they will sell what the market demands. And, at least for now given the lack of infrastructure and high EV prices, EVs just aren’t what the market is demanding.   

    The team did a wonderful job communicating these messages that were heard loud and clear in Washington!

  • Hyundai Hope on Wheels Donates $250,000 to Lurie Children’s Hospital

    Friday, September 27, 2024 9:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    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.

  • River Front Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Opens First-Ever Dedicated Ram Truck Center in the Midwest

    Friday, September 27, 2024 9:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    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."

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