Neil Schilke, 2001 SAE President Nominee, announces the new Digital Car Conference and Exhibition.

Recognizing the importance that consumer demand has on fast-paced development of telematics and other automotive electronics devices, SAE is teaming with the Consumer Electronics Association to sponsor a new conference focused on engineering those devices into vehicles in an equally fast-paced way.

As announced Monday at Convergence 2000 by SAE 2001 President Nominee Neil Schilke, the Digital Car Conference and Exhibition will be inaugurated next October in Detroit. It will be held in Detroit in odd years (to avoid conflicting with Convergence).

"During its 95 years, SAE has sought to do whatever is necessary to provide real relevance and value to its members in the mobility community it serves," Schilke said. "For the fastest-growing areas of technology in the year 2000, that sometimes means forming strategic partnerships with other organizations that have similar reputations and values that can enhance the value of what SAE offers. In the consumer-based universe, no organization can match the quality of the Consumers Electronics Association," which draws 120,000 attendees annually.

According to James Rillings, Digital Car Conference Chairman, it will be "an interactive, online event reflecting the leading-edge spirit of the sponsoring organizations, the universities, and companies developing these technologies." While the exhibition will be open and support up to 5000 attendees, only 400 people will be accommodated for the technical program, with seats allocated on a first come, first-served basis. Participants will participate in the proceedings with telematics devices at their seats. An additional 400 people worldwide will be given the same interactive capabilities online.

With the new format, "We hope it will set a new standard for future SAE high-tech conferences," Rillings said. In another first, the exhibition for one night will be opened to the public for free.