Best Auto Companies in Chicago, United States
The 60 best Auto companies in Chicago, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: LKQ.
Our analysis of 50 Auto companies
$9.4b in tracked funding; 94% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2025.
Ranked: Best Auto companies in Chicago
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Stage | Founder | Founded | Tech stack | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LKQ Provider of alternative replacement for car and truck parts | $765M | 91 mo ago | Public | Rob Wagman President & CEO | 1998 | WordPressApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+25 | — | — |
| 2 | Clearcover 🦄 Online platform that provides automotive insurance 78Funding top 15%Tech top 22%Moat top 26%Customers top 28% All 12 signals ▾Fundingtop 15% Techtop 22% Moattop 26% Customerstop 28% Producttop 31% Innovationtop 37% Markettop 38% Talenttop 38% AItop 45% Growthbottom 45% Globalbottom 37% Newsbottom 24% Funding: Raised $406M across 9 rounds · 9 rounds over 10 yrs (0.9/yr) Tech: 60 technologies across 7/8 capability areas · Cloud: Amazon Cloudfront, Amazon S3 rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 78/100 | $406M | 8 mo ago | Series D | Derek Brigham Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer | 2016 | SentryZendeskApple iCloud Mail+33 | — | — |
| 3 | ForeverCar Online platform offering insurance for auto service contracts | $18M | 75 mo ago | Acquired | — | 2011 | PythonChart.jsMaterialize CSS+22 | — | — |
| 4 | Drivin Dealer Optimizing dealer inventory with data-driven vehicle recommendations and market insights | $18M | 121 mo ago | Acquired | — | 2015 | — | — | — |
| 5 | Super.tech Provider of auto repair, brake, tire, transmission, and oil change services | $3M | 59 mo ago | Acquired | — | 2019 | — | — | — |
| 6 | Xcite Automotive Provider of a suite of management solutions for automotive dealerships | $2M | 24 mo ago | Series A | — | 2007 | HubSpot CMS HubApple iCloud MailGoogle Workspace+19 | — | — |
| 7 | Cars.com Online retailer of new and used cars, providing reviews | — | 102 mo ago | Public | — | 1998 | Apple iCloud MailGoogle WorkspaceErlang+36 | — | — |
| 8 | MacLean-Fogg Global manufacturer providing innovative solutions for automotive and power utility marketplaces | — | 151 mo ago | Funding Raised | Duncan MacLean CEO & President | 1925 | WordPressMySQLPHP+30 | 13 patents Patents concentrated in construction | — |
Top 8 Auto companies in Chicago
#1
Series D · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2016 · 450 employees$406Mraised▾
Online platform that provides automotive insurance. It features a Quick View ID card to manage policy information, submit claims, claims to track, change payment methods, make payments, view payment information, and more. It also validates coverages and determines eligibility for expedited payment.
- Oct 2025Series D$25M
- Jan 2025Series D$26.2M
- Oct 2024Series D$44M
- Mar 2024Series D$55M
#2
Public · Chicago, Illinois · founded 1998 · 1539 employees$765Mraised▾
Provider of alternative replacement for car and truck parts. Their products include new aftermarket replacement parts, Reconditioned OE replacement parts, Remanufactured engines, and transmissions, Rebuilt OE replacement parts, Heavy truck and equipment parts and used trucks, Paint and body shop supplies and equipment, Salvage vehicle disposal, national part purchase programs, and insurer services. They went public in Oct 2003. In 2022, the company recorded annual revenues of $12.79B and a net profit of $1.14B.
- Nov 2018Conventional Debt—
- Conventional Debt$765M
#3
Series A · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2007 · 500 employees$1.9Mraised▾
It is a company that specializes in providing vehicle photography and inventory management software for automotive dealers. They offer services such as photos, window stickers, and 360 spin. They also have various brands under their umbrella, including ReconLogic, CarStudioPros, VehicleStickers.io, CarsByText, and Frontline Inventory.
- Jun 2024Series A$3.4M
#4
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2011 · 12 employees$18.4Mraised▾
Online platform offering insurance for auto service contracts. It partners with service providers who integrate the quoting, commerce, and fulfillment engine. Besides vehicle service contracts also provides services such as wheel & tire protection, dent & ding protection, key replacement, and windshield protection.
- Apr 2020Series A$648.8K
- May 2018Series A$4M
- Sep 2017Conventional Debt$12M
- Aug 2017Series A$3M
#5
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2015 · 69 employees$17.5Mraised▾
Optimizing dealer inventory with data-driven vehicle recommendations and market insights. The company helps dealers optimize their inventory to better meet buyer demands. Focused on improving each dealer's bottom line, the platform provides streamlined vehicle recommendations, delivering cars proven to perform on their lot directly to their inbox. Leveraging data insights and experienced inventory consultants, the company identifies ideal inventory matches. The company empowers dealers to improve their lot fitness with tailored vehicle recommendations. Through a user-friendly application, car dealers gain instant access to industry-sourced pricing guides and market reports. Features include a VIN scanner for real-time car information, live auction inventory browsing, and vehicle search capabilities across computer and smartphone platforms. The company also provides vehicle history reports with unique and extensive data, actively sourced to ensure the most up-to-date information. This is a B2B SaaS platform.
- May 2016Series A$7.5M
- Jul 2015Series A$10M
#6
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2019 · 15 employees$3.3Mraised▾
Provider of auto repair, brake, tire, transmission, and oil change services. It also provides high-performance engine valves and valve train components. Additionally, it offers advanced wave boards and climbing equipment. Furthermore, the company provides high-tech scooters for enhanced riding experiences.
- Aug 2021Grant (prize money)$256K
- Feb 2021Grant (prize money)$3M
#7
Public · Chicago, Illinois · founded 1998 · 1700 employees—raised▾
Online retailer of new and used cars, providing reviews. The platform offers tools for comparing vehicles, researching models, and finding local dealers. It also provides resources for selling cars, obtaining financing, and accessing news and expert reviews.
- Dec 2017Post IPO—
#8
Funding Raised · Chicago, Illinois · founded 1925 · 1428 employees—raised▾
Global manufacturer providing innovative solutions for automotive and power utility marketplaces. The company engineers, manufactures, and distributes products across diverse sectors. It operates through multiple business groups, including Fastener Solutions, Engineered Solutions, Plastic Solutions, Additive Solutions, and Mallard Manufacturing. The company focuses on delivering world-class quality and service to its customers. It emphasizes innovation, sustainability, and ethical conduct, reflected in its policies and commitment to its employees. The company provides components and solutions impacting various aspects of daily life, leveraging advanced technologies like 3D printing. It serves key industries with a broad range of engineered products and services.
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Auto coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
What Chicago researches in autonomous vehicles
Chicago's University of Illinois Chicago, Loyola, and University of Chicago lead autonomous-vehicle research, predominantly exploring safety, mobility, and human-automation interaction with a cautiously optimistic stance (mean 0.25).
- University of Illinois Chicago7
- Loyola University Chicago6
- University of Chicago4
- Chicago State University2
- Chicago Neuropsychology Group1
Common questions
Riya reads income statements for fun. She covers the real money in a sector — revenue, growth, who actually earns — and never met a vague claim she didn't want a number for.