15th Annual Auto Interiors Show Opens in Detroit

"Interior of the Year" Awards & Ford Purchasing Panel Key Highlights

DETROIT, June 3, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- The 15th annual Auto Interiors Show opens tomorrow (Wednesday, June 4) at Detroit's Cobo Center. It brings together leading manufacturers and automotive design and engineering talent who will share their vision of the road ahead in styling, safety, recycling, smart-car technology for vehicle interiors, OEM-supplier relations and more.

Executives from GM, Ford, Chrysler, Mazda, Toyota's Design Center, and numerous Tier One interior suppliers such as Visteon, Faurecia, DuPont, TRW, Lear, Magna, JCI, Key Safety Systems, and many others will be participating on panels or giving keynotes. (For a complete conference and show schedule, see autointeriors.com)

Wednesday Highlights

Opening Keynote

The opening keynote at 10:00 a.m. will be by Peter Horbury, executive director of design, North America, Ford Motor Company, who will discuss his vision for designing and building tomorrow's vehicle interiors, which encompasses everything from material innovations and assembly concepts to purchasing imperatives and aftermarket operations.

Closing the Deal OEM Panel

Following the keynote, Helen Emsley, global director -- color and trim, General Motors, will be on an OEM panel with Alan Schneider, project chief designer, Toyota Calty Design Research; and Dan Vivian, director -- engineering design, Hyundai Motor America, that will discuss "Closing the Deal with an Irresistible Interior." The panel will discuss new interior ideas, concepts as well as bold designs that will seal the purchasing deal. The moderator is Carl Olsen, president, ARK Design. The panel takes place at 11:00 a.m.

Interior of the Year Awards

The annual Ward's "Interior of the Year" awards presentations take place at 1:15 p.m. on the show floor. In all, 36 outstanding vehicles from 13 manufacturers have been nominated in six categories and the winners will be announced at the show. Four Special Achievement Awards will also be presented.

Human Machine Interface Panel

At 2:10 p.m., a panel composed of Steve Polakowski, Magna International; Rodger Eich, Johnson Controls; Michael Tschirhart, Visteon; and Frank Homann, Continental Automotive Systems will discuss "New Trends & Technologies in the Human Machine Interface (HMI). "The panel will discuss how new developments are making the HMI more intuitive, tactile and easier to use.

Thursday Highlights

Keynote Address

Thursday opens with a keynote address by Wilbur Ross, chairman and CEO, W.L. Ross & Co. LLC, and chairman, IAC Group. Ross will discuss how automakers and Tier Ones must improve all aspects of automotive interiors, including attractiveness, technology and safety to differentiate their models in the highly competitive marketplace. His keynote begins at 10:00 a.m. Thursday.

Ford OEM Purchasing Panel

Marcy Fisher, director of body interior engineering, Ford Motor Co., and Michael Taylor, director -- interior purchasing, Ford Motor Co., will discuss "Ford's Purchasing Strategy for Interiors." They will be joined by Randal Koenigsknecht, vice president, sales & marketing, Intier; and Ray Shemanski, vice president & GM, Johnson Controls. This OEM Purchasing Panel will discuss how Ford is leveraging supplier technology in crafting vehicle interiors that are comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, functional and cost-effective. The panel is scheduled from 11 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. It will be moderated by John Henke, President & CEO, Planning Perspectives Inc., whose firm publishes the annual OEM - Supplier Working Relations study of the U.S. Big Three vs. Japan's Big Three.

Collaborating With the Aftermarket Panel

Thursday afternoon, John Waraniak, vice president - vehicle technology, SEMA, will moderate a panel on "Collaborating with the Aftermarket for the Ultimate Personalization and Retail Experience." Panelist will include Rob Richard, Mopar Parts - sales and service marketing, Chrysler LLC; and Jeff Vogel, Alpine Electronics of America. This panel will explore the personalization of interiors at the point of sale through early design collaboration with aftermarket suppliers. It will begin at 12:45 p.m.

The above keynotes and panels are only part of the nearly 20 different panel sessions, seminars and events taking place over the two-day run of the show at Cobo Center. Exhibit hours are 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Thursday until 3:30 p.m.); and conference hours are 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. (Thursday until 4:30 p.m.).

About the Auto Interiors Show: Now in its 15th year, The Auto Interiors Show is presented by Ward's Automotive Group and is the industry's leading trade show and conference for vehicle interiors. It spotlights the latest innovations in vehicle technology and design to help suppliers respond to increasing OEM demands and changing consumer preferences. It features exhibits of leading suppliers who showcase trendsetting products and materials with a view to the future of vehicle interiors. For complete information on the annual Ward's Auto Interiors Show, go to: autointeriors.com

Source: Auto Interiors Show

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