Center for Automotive Research Putting New Face on Industry Confab

The Center for Automotive Research’s Management Briefing Seminars, one of the U.S. auto industry’s best-known and most enduring confabs, is giving itself a facelift for 2011.

The 46-year-old conference still will be held the first week of August in Traverse City, MI, and top officials from auto makers, suppliers and the United Auto Workers union will headline the event.

Dave Cole, CAR chairman emeritus

But a few critics from outside the industry also are speaking this year, adding a bit of controversy to a roster typically dominated by industry insiders.

Former CAR Chairman Dave Cole, who has been synonymous with MBS since the 1970s, no longer will play his familiar role as master of ceremonies.

Instead, Jay Baron, CAR chairman and CEO and Sean McAlinden, CAR executive vice president-research and chief economist, are expected to be at the podium.

Cole, now CAR chairman emeritus, will moderate a panel Thursday morning, Aug. 4, that will look at the future of the auto industry in this age of uncertainty.

Among this year’s headliners are Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat and Chrysler; Jim Farley, Ford group vice president-global marketing and UAW President Bob King.

The roster also includes top officials from General Motors, Volkswagen and Toyota as well as from auto suppliers Magna, TI Automotive and IAC.

The outsider most likely to generate sparks is environmental activist Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Campaign at the Center for Auto Safety.

He will speak on a panel Tuesday, Aug. 2, that asks the question: “How much faith can we (should we) put in technology?”

Jay Baron, CAR chairman and CEO

In the past, Becker, a former director of the Sierra Club’s global-warming program, has argued auto makers have the technology needed to meet the toughest fuel-economy standards, but they are not putting it to use.

On the same panel is McAlinden, who disagrees.

The two have traded verbal jabs in the past.

“You’ve got two loudmouths.

We’re going to have a shootout as to what to believe on these technology promises going forward,” McAlinden says.

King’s appearance at the conference also is expected to generate heat because the U.S. industry is gearing up for new contract talks.

Other hot discussion topics will include new corporate average fuel economy standards for 2017 and beyond and the role advanced materials will play in meeting those standards.

[email protected]