SAE 2003 World Congress Opens at Cobo Center March 3

Additions to Mark Major Turning Point at World's Largest Engineering Gathering

TROY, Mich., Feb. 26 -- With SAE 2003 World Congress less than a week away, the final touches have been put on the new programs attendees will experience at Cobo Center March 3-6. This year will mark major additions to the overall programming, cementing World Congress as the place to connect OEMs and automotive suppliers.

  At the show this year will be:
  -- Nearly 900 exhibiting companies
  -- More than 65 panelists at the six Technology Pavilions
  -- 40 countries represented
  -- 1,100+ white papers presented
  -- OEM vehicle display cut-outs

"This World Congress is truly unique and is the largest of its kind, anywhere," said Richard Schaum, executive vice president, product development and quality, DaimlerChrysler Corporation and general chair, SAE 2003 World Congress. "Each year we strive to create a setting where the engineering community can discuss and learn about the hottest topics affecting our industry. The additions we have made for 2003 round out the offerings of SAE World Congress and create a niche for everyone."

A new feature for World Congress, the 400-seat Technical Pavilion located on the show floor, will host top-level automotive executives discussing some of the hottest topics facing the industry today but attendees won't need a Ph.D. to follow along. Sessions will include:

  -- 17 Million Vehicles Sold - Where's the Profit?
     Can OEM and Supplier partnerships lead to profits for both?  If so,
     when?
     If not, what's the new business model?
  -- Is the U.S. Making Diesels Hard to Start?
     If They Get Going, Can Diesel Passenger Cars Make It in the U.S.
     Past 2007?
  -- Fuel Cell Initiatives; Powering Up at State, Regional, or International
     Levels
  -- 42-Volt Electrical Systems & Fuel Cells: Harmonious Marriage or
     Incompatible Partners?
  -- The Safety Revolution: as Safe as Possible

Panel speakers include top-level industry executives, including representatives from DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM, TRW, Bosch, Visteon, DTE Energy, Yazaki, Delphi, the US Army and Canadian, Russian and Mexican government representatives.

In addition, DaimlerChrysler, GM, Ford and BMW will have vehicle cut-away displays on the show floor, which will allow show-goers to see how each part actually fits into a car.

The floor will be broken into five supplier pavilions, dedicated to the five core technologies that provide the foundation for World Congress (advanced propulsion/powertrain, advanced electronics, safety/testing, environment/emissions, and lightweight materials). The design makes it easier for attendees to find correlated suppliers.

"The whole concept for Congress this year revolves around our technical program themes," continued Schaum. "Using the five core topics as a spring- board allowed us to create a cohesive curriculum that shed light on every angle of the same topic. Attendees will walk away more knowledgeable on every topic presented."

  Hours for the SAE 2003 World Congress are:
  Monday - Wednesday             8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
  Thursday                       8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

SAE is a non-profit engineering and scientific organization dedicated to the advancement of mobility technology to better serve humanity. Nearly 84,000 engineers and scientists who are SAE members develop technical information on all forms of self-propelled vehicles, including automobiles, aircraft, aerospace craft, trucks, buses, marine, rail and transit machinery. This information is disseminated through SAE meetings, books, electronic products and databases, technical papers, standards, reports and professional development programs.