For the auto industry, Chicago isn't just the City of Big Shoulders, it's the city of big trends.
Manufacturers say the Chicago Auto Show is an important opportunity to get customer feedback on their newest ideas.
The show, which kicks off this weekend this weekend, brings some of the newest trends and technologies in the auto industry to customers for the first time.
The hit event returns to McCormick Place for eight days beginning Saturday, marking the largest auto show in the nation.
Already this year, Ford Motor Company has announced a $1 billion investment into Chicago-area assembly plants, which will create 500 new jobs in the coming years.
Auto companies say the show is an important opportunity.
"It’s actually, in terms of attendance, one of the biggest in the world aside from China, so it’s a great place to debut a vehicle," said Mark Gillies with Volkswagen.
