Additions to Mark Major Turning Point at World's Largest Engineering Gathering

    TROY, Mich., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- With SAE 2003 World Congress less
than a week away, the final touches have been put on the new programs
attendees will experience at Cobo Center March 3-6.  This year will mark major
additions to the overall programming, cementing World Congress as the place to
connect OEMs and automotive suppliers.
    At the show this year will be:
    -- Nearly 900 exhibiting companies
    -- More than 65 panelists at the six Technology Pavilions
    -- 40 countries represented
    -- 1,100+ white papers presented
    -- OEM vehicle display cut-outs
    "This World Congress is truly unique and is the largest of its kind,
anywhere," said Richard Schaum, executive vice president, product development
and quality, DaimlerChrysler Corporation and general chair, SAE 2003 World
Congress.  "Each year we strive to create a setting where the engineering
community can discuss and learn about the hottest topics affecting our
industry.  The additions we have made for 2003 round out the offerings of SAE
World Congress and create a niche for everyone."
    A new feature for World Congress, the 400-seat Technical Pavilion located
on the show floor, will host top-level automotive executives discussing some
of the hottest topics facing the industry today but attendees won't need a
Ph.D. to follow along.  Sessions will include:
    -- 17 Million Vehicles Sold - Where's the Profit?
       Can OEM and Supplier partnerships lead to profits for both?  If so,
       when?
       If not, what's the new business model?
    -- Is the U.S. Making Diesels Hard to Start?
       If They Get Going, Can Diesel Passenger Cars Make It in the U.S.
       Past 2007?
    -- Fuel Cell Initiatives; Powering Up at State, Regional, or International
       Levels
    -- 42-Volt Electrical Systems & Fuel Cells: Harmonious Marriage or
       Incompatible Partners?
    -- The Safety Revolution: as Safe as Possible
    Panel speakers include top-level industry executives, including
representatives from DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM, TRW, Bosch, Visteon, DTE
Energy, Yazaki, Delphi, the US Army and Canadian, Russian and Mexican
government representatives.
    In addition, DaimlerChrysler, GM, Ford and BMW will have vehicle cut-away
displays on the show floor, which will allow show-goers to see how each part
actually fits into a car.
    The floor will be broken into five supplier pavilions, dedicated to the
five core technologies that provide the foundation for World Congress
(advanced propulsion/powertrain, advanced electronics, safety/testing,
environment/emissions, and lightweight materials).  The design makes it easier
for attendees to find correlated suppliers.
    "The whole concept for Congress this year revolves around our technical
program themes," continued Schaum.  "Using the five core topics as a spring-
board allowed us to create a cohesive curriculum that shed light on every
angle of the same topic.  Attendees will walk away more knowledgeable on every
topic presented."
    Hours for the SAE 2003 World Congress are:
    Monday - Wednesday             8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
    Thursday                       8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

    SAE is a non-profit engineering and scientific organization dedicated to
the advancement of mobility technology to better serve humanity.  Nearly
84,000 engineers and scientists who are SAE members develop technical
information on all forms of self-propelled vehicles, including automobiles,
aircraft, aerospace craft, trucks, buses, marine, rail and transit machinery.
This information is disseminated through SAE meetings, books, electronic
products and databases, technical papers, standards, reports and professional
development programs.

Link to this page: