Convergence 2002 to Feature VIP Lineup of Auto & High Tech Keynote Speakers

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 23 -- Convergence 2002, the premier global automotive electronics conference, held October 21-23, 2002 at Cobo Center in Detroit, has announced its preliminary lineup of keynote speakers that includes CEOs representing automotive and technology companies from around the world.

"The goal of Convergence is to bring together key industry leaders to exchange ideas on the future of automotive electronics technologies while addressing important technological, societal and business issues affecting the application of electronics in the automobile," said Bernard I. Robertson, senior vice president of DaimlerChrysler and chairman of Convergence 2002. "We are fortunate to have a top-notch lineup of speakers this year that blends the pioneering spirit with the forward-thinking vision that will lead our industries into the future."

In addition to Robertson, who will open the conference, Convergence 2002 speakers include:

Dick Brass, vice president of Technology Development at Microsoft Corporation, the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing, is featured as the opening keynote speaker on Monday at 9:00 a.m. Wolfgang Dehen, president & CEO, Siemens VDO Automotive AG, one of the world's leading suppliers of electronics, electrical products and mechatronics to the automotive industry, will immediately follow Mr. Brass on Monday at 9:45 a.m. Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart, deputy chairman of the Executive Board Continental AG, a global company specializing in the development and production of promising systems in the areas of brake technology, vehicle dynamics control, tires and energy management, will be featured as Monday's afternoon keynote speaker at 1:30 p.m. Chris Galvin, CEO of Motorola, a global leader in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions, will kick-off Tuesday's agenda with a morning keynote address at 8:30 a.m. Thierry Morin, CEO of Valeo Industries, one of the world's top suppliers of components, integrated systems and modules, will begin Wednesday's sessions with a morning keynote address starting at 8:30 a.m. Alex Lidow, CEO of International Rectifer, a world leader in power management technology that improves functionality, speed, compactness, and portability in information technology and other end products, will be featured as Wednesday's afternoon keynote speaker at 1:30 p.m. Dr. Dieter Zetsche, president & CEO of Chrysler Group at DaimlerChrysler, will conclude Convergence 2002 by serving as the keynote speaker at the closing banquet on Wednesday. The overall program of Convergence 2002 has been broadened to address three important aspects of automotive electronics -- the product, the process and the business which together will encompass the theme: Transportation Electronics = Business + Technology + Process.

The three-day conference, hosted this year by DaimlerChrysler, will include panel discussions with participants representing the leading edge of the automotive and electronics industries and more than 75 technical papers addressing important technological, societal and business issues affecting the application of electronics in the automobile. Other automotive industry leaders scheduled to play a key role during the course of the conference include: J.T. Battenberg III, Chairman, CEO & President of Delphi; Keith Crain, Chairman of Crain Communications; Dr. C.K. Prahalad, Harvey C. Fruehauf Professor of Corporate Strategy at the University of Michigan Business School; Paul Hansen, Publisher of the Hansen Report on Automotive Electronics; and Trevor O. Jones, founder of Convergence.

Convergence 2000 drew more than 9,000 attendees and 250 media from around the world. Exhibit space for the 2002 conference has been increased by 35 percent and will feature over 180 state-of-the-art exhibits, occupying two halls at the Cobo facility.

Convergence 2002 Gold Sponsors are DaimlerChrysler, Robert Bosch Corporation, Delphi, DENSO Corporation, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, Motorola, Toyota Motor Corporation, Visteon Corporation and Yazaki North America.

The Convergence Transportation Electronics Association (CTEA), which founded the conference more than 25 years ago, and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) co-sponsor Convergence 2002. Proceeds from the conference benefit the Convergence Education Foundation (CEF), a nonprofit organization devoted to developing a passion for mathematics and science in school-aged children.

For general conference information contact Denise ("denny") Freitag at (248) 944-0975. To register on-line visit the Convergence 2002 website at www.convergence2002.org .