Panel Tackles Tough Issue Of Auto Alliances at SAE 2001 World Congress

    WARRENDALE, Pa., Feb. 26 Five top executives, involved
with the automotive industry, will attack the issue of automotive alliances
and what it takes to be successful in today's competitive/cooperative market.
This discussion will take place at the Society of Automotive Engineers
(SAE International) Blue Ribbon Panel, Monday, March 5 at 4 p.m. at the SAE
2001 World Congress in Room W1-51, Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan.

    Participants in the session include Rudolph A. Schlais, Jr., Group Vice
President, General Motors Corporation and President, General Motors Asia
Pacific (PTE) Ltd.; R. Suresh, Director, Embedded Systems Group, Microsoft
Corporation; William J. Carroll, President - Automotive Systems Group, Dana
Corporation; Guy C. Hachey, Vice President, Delphi Automotive Systems and
President, Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems; and J Ferron, Partner, Americas
Automotive Consulting Leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers.
    Moderator of the panel will be David E. Cole, Director, Center for
Automotive Research (CAR) and a Management Partner, Environmental Research
Institute of Michigan (ERIM).

    Cole will raise such issues as what works or doesn't work related to
alliances, how to prepare for an alliance, the role technology plays, alliance
cultural differences and critical issues related to alliances.

    Schlais has been based in Singapore since 1998, where he is responsible
for the overall direction of GM operations in that region.  Schlais has
devoted his career to developing customer-focused businesses that provide an
acceptable return to investors and benefit the partners.

    Suresh manages all worldwide automotive sales, marketing and support
activities for Microsoft Corporation.  He started the Embedded Solution
Centers in 1998 with engineering teams in Munich, Redmond, WA, Taipei and
Tokyo.

    Carroll started with Dana in 1970, and was named president of the
Automotive Components Group in 1997, which became the Automotive Systems Group
in 1998.

    Prior to his present assignment, Hachey was general manager of Delphi
Chassis Systems and manufacturing manager, worldwide operations, for Delphi
Interior Systems.