Executive Management Conference News

Dr. Burkhard Goeschel, Member of the Board of Management, BMW AG, will officially open the SAE 2006 World Congress at the AVL Technology Theater. Dr. Goeschel will introduce the first panel discussion of the event's Executive Management Conference: Innovation in the Automotive Industry. This is one of several discussions at SAE 2006 relating to the event's theme, "Driving Innovation through Partnership", as shaped by BMW Group. Dr. Frank Niederlaender, Director Strategy, Target Management, and Product Standards, BMW Group, will lead this panel discussion addressing the management of innovation as well as ideas for driving innovation through research.

Other panels, keynotes and sessions at the AVL Technology Theater and FEV Powertrain Innovation Forum are expected to include:

Diesel, Gas, or Hybrid — Innovation for Tomorrow and Beyond

Keynote Address Klaus Borgmann, Director Powertrain Development, BMW Group Panel Session invited guests from DCX, Bosch, AVL, J.D. Power, Honda, Toyota, and more!

What Will Be the Future Transportation Energy Sources — And At What Cost?

Panel Session Moderator: Nigel Gale, Vice President, Southwest Research Institute Panelists: Christoph Huss, Senior Vice; President of Science and Traffic Policy, BMW Group and other invited guests.

The Role of Motorsports in the Development of High-performance Sports Cars and Sedans

Herb Fishel, CEO, The Business of Motorsports, and former Director of GM Racing

Safer Cars Through Crash Avoidance — New Solutions

Keynote Address: Robert Yakushi, Director of Product Safety, Regulatory and Accessory Quality, Nissan North America, Inc. A panel discussion follows, led by: Josef Haberl, Director, Vehicle Safety, BMW Group

Innovation in the Automotive Industry

Dr. Frank Niederlaender, Director Strategy, Target Management, and Product Standards, BMW Group

The Quest for Manufacturing Success in the USA

Dr. Klaus Richter, Senior VP, Product Materials Purchasing, BMW Group and Prof. Dr. Clemens Schmitz-Justen, President, BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC, BMW Group

New Applications for Vehicle Electronics and Telecommunications — Cutting Costs and Improving Customer Satisfaction

Keynote Address
Hans-Georg Frischkorn, Senior Vice President, System Architecture and System Innovation, BMW Group

Innovation and Cost vs. Quality Considerations

A Panel discussion will feature Jack Little, CEO, The MathWorks and other invited guests.

Nano and Micro Technology, and MEMS — Redefining the Car of Tomorrow, Myth vs. Reality

Panelists: Dr. Rudolf Stauber, Vice President, Materials Development, BMW Group and other invited guests.

AVL will once again sponsor the SAE 2006 Technology Theater, the exhibition hall venue for the SAE 2006 Executive Management Conference. Featuring more than 100 keynotes and panelists-top executives and officials from industry, government, and research and academia-AVL has been the theater's sole sponsor since 2004. SAE and AVL are planning to add new, innovative features to make the 2006 theater a more interactive experience between audience and presenters. FEV has renewed its sponsorship of the SAE 2006 Innovation Forum. This marks the second year of sponsorship for FEV. This exhibition hall stage will feature some of the event's most popular technical sessions. Session selections are in review and will be finalized in November.