Wednesday, August 4–Friday, August 6

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Confirmed Speakers:

To view Speaker presentations, click on Speaker name.

If not listed, the presentation is not available at this time.

Chair:

Dave Cole, Chairman, Center for Automotive Research

Wednesday, August 4,
8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

The Honorable Jennifer Granholm, Governor, State of Michigan

Fujio Cho President and Chief Executive Officer, Toyota Motor Corporation

J.T. Battenberg III, Board Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, Delphi Corporation

Tom LaSorda, Chief Operating Officer, DaimlerChrysler Corporation

Larry Denton, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dura Automotive Systems

Masaaki Kato, President of Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, and Managing Director, Honda Motor Company

Chet Huber, Managing Director, Onstar, General Motors

Patrick Murray, Vice President, VisionWorks Technology Division, 
Lear Corporation

Venkatesh Prasad, Ford Motor Company

Thursday Morning,
August 5, 8:30 a.m.–noon.

Dave Cole

John Devine, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, General Motors Corporation

Jim Padilla, Chief Operating Officer and Chairman of Automotive Operations, Ford Motor Company

Paul Wilbur (1) (2) (3) (4), President and Chief Executive Officer, ASC Inc.

Ed Zander, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Motorola, Inc.

Several years ago “The Perfect Storm” was a popular book and movie. The basic idea was that an unusual set of meteorological events came together in a special way to create an immense and treacherous storm. In a sense, that is what is occurring today in the auto industry—an unusual confluence of factors that is creating an extraordinarily turbulent and dangerous period in our industry. The magnitude of the storm is hard to grasp. Some of the dimensions include:

Hyper-competition at all levels of the industry. Rapid global integration, from global sourcing to people operating everywhere. Speed continues to be critical and in fact, the velocity of change is accelerating. New and very competent tool sets are arriving, ranging from the internet and collaborative software to product development and manufacturing simulations. Exploding peripheral costs, such as health care and litigation, are diverting company resources. Global regulation of the industry is also accelerating. Developing countries and regions such as China and India-opportunities as well as threats-are moving aggressively forward, impacting individual jobs as well as the strategic direction of organizations. There is inappropriate profitability of the industry as a whole. Collaboration is a necessary way of life; for many, it is an unnatural act.

The only hope for survival is a new and improved business model for this great and important industry. We discussed the critical issues in the “Perfect Storm” and heard from industry leaders as they seek survival, prosperity and smooth sailing for their organizations in the years ahead.

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Thursday Afternoon Breakout Sessions 1:15–3:30 p.m. (choose one):

SESSION 1: Riding the Storm Out: A Business Case for Abiding by the Basic Rules of Engagement in the Automotive Industry

Thursday Afternoon,
August 5

Riding the Storm Out: A Business Case for Abiding by the Basic Rules of Engagement in the Automotive Industry

Chair:

Neil DeKoker, President, OESA

Kim Korth, President, IRN Inc.

John Casesa, First Vice President, Merrill Lynch & Company

Richard Donnelly, Industrial Partner Ripplewood Holdings LLC

Wallace Tsuha, Chairman, CEO and President, Saturn Electronics and Engineering, Inc.

Returning profitability to the auto sector requires embracing a truly collaborative business model where OEMs and suppliers together define, understand and abide by the basic terms of engagement. If industry participants disregard contract law and other business practices, then business needs as basic as risk management and access to capital will go unmet. While many industry participants believe the propensity to resource business is basic free enterprise, the practice is increasing the industry’s perceived risk while driving down financial returns.

This panel will address industry’s near-term customer-supplier actions, mid-term corrections, and long-term financial prospects from the internal perspectives of the suppliers and the external views of the financial and legal institutions.

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SESSION 2: Advanced Power Technology Forum

Thursday Afternoon,
August 5

Advanced Power Technology Forum

Co-Chairs:

Dave Cole, Chairman, Center for Automotive Research and Brett Smith, Director, Product and Technology Forecasting, Center for Automotive Research

Mark Chernoby, Vice President, Advanced Vehicle Engineering, Daimler Chrysler

Dave Hermance, Executive Engineer, Environmental Engineering Department, Toyota Technical Center

Graham Hoare, Director, Powertrain Research and Development, Ford Motor Company

Beth Lowery, Vice President Environment and Energy, General Motors Corporation

Advanced powertrain technology continues to be an increasingly important and dynamic arena. There are numerous on-going technological developments in advanced spark-ignition engines, clean diesels, hybrids and fuel cells. Further, changes in federal and state regulations are also approaching. Given the significant investment required for powertrain development and implementation, as well as the uncertainty in customer acceptance, this is an area that must continue to be carefully monitored by all industry stakeholders.

The third annual Powertrain Forum will present a focused evaluation of the advanced powertrain strategies and technologies employed by automotive industry participants. Special emphasis will be given to the business case for near-to-mid term technologies. Representatives from manufacturers, suppliers, and government regulators will provide attendees the latest information on the current state and future trends of this ever-changing and high-impact field.

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Friday, August 6,
8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Purchasing Session

Chair:

Dave Cole

Dave Nelson (1) (2), Vice President, Global Supply Management, Delphi Corporation

Paul Radkoski, Vice President, Materials Management, Visteon

Larry Jutte, Senior Vice President and General Manager, North American Parts and Procurement, Honda of America

Simon Nagata, Vice President, Purchasing, Toyota Motor Manufacturing NA Inc.