World's Premier Commercial Vehicle Event Set to Open in Ft. Worth

   WHO:  Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE)

   WHAT:   2003 International Truck & Bus Meeting & Exhibition

   WHEN:   November 10-12, 2003

   WHERE:   Fort Worth Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA

The world's top commercial vehicle conference comes to Fort Worth next week! The SAE 2003 International Truck & Bus Meeting & Exhibition, hosted by PACCAR, Inc., opens in the Fort Worth Convention Center at 8:30 a.m., Monday, November 10, 2003, with a formal ribbon cutting ceremony. Presiding over the ceremony are the David J. Hovind, Vice Chairman, PACCAR, Inc., Duane Tiede, Vice President of Functional Engineering-Retired, CNH Global & SAE 2004 President Elect, and Raymond A. Morris, SAE Executive Vice President and COO.

This year's theme, "Connecting the Technologies, People, and Companies that Drive Industry" will take a broad look at the commercial transportation industry, covering manufacturing, technology, and end-user transportation services issues. The conference features a host of prominent speakers, cutting-edge seminar sessions, and innovative product displays.

New this year is a special Technology Theater, located on the show floor. The Technology Theater will house two Special Industry Forums covering the topics of Urban Trucks and Buses and Systems Engineering. These panels will engage industry leaders, government, and media on the relevant topic. Specifics for both follow:

   "Urban Trucks and Buses of the Future" - Monday, November 10th,
   1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.  Panelists include Kevin D. Beaty, Business Unit
   Manager, Hybrid Drivetrain, Eaton Corporation, Sid Gooch, Managing
   Director, FedEx Express, Randy Oetting, Director, Medium Duty Product
   Center, International Truck & Engine Corporation, and Victor Ayres, City
   of Houston, Mayor's Office of Environmental Policy.  Moderator, Eric
   Harley, Host, Midnight Trucking Radio Network

   "Putting the Puzzle Together: Systems Engineering" - Wednesday, November
   12th, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Panelists include Andy Brown, Executive
   Director, Engineering Competency, Delphi Corporation; Garrick Hu, Vice
   President, Product Development, ArvinMeritor; Phil Christman, Vice
   President, Product Development, Navistar; Timothy Jackson, Senior Vice
   President, Global Technology, Tenneco; and Jim Bechtold, Chief Engineer,
   Kenworth. Moderator, Duane Tiede, 2004 SAE President Elect.

The conference features an expanded exhibit, with approximately 100 OEMs, Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 suppliers displaying technologies and products. Vehicles from General Motors Corporation, Volvo, Peterbilt Motors Company, International Truck and Engine Corporation, Dodge, Freightliner, and Ford Motor Company will also be on display on the exhibit floor.

This year's banquet, sponsored by Delphi Corporation, will be hosted by Master of Ceremonies David Hovind and features a keynote address by Thomas J. Gross, Senior Executive Member, Board of Directors, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy. The banquet will be held on Tuesday, November 11h, starting at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting, which historically draws in excess of 1,500 commercial vehicle industry professionals, will also showcase the 48th Annual L. Ray Buckendale Lecture, presented on November 11th at 8:30 a.m. by Mark G. Thomas, an engineer with Motorola Automotive.

Several companies will hold press briefings during the event (additional information on all press briefings will be posted on the message board in the media center). Featured prominently is a press event hosted by International Truck & Engine Corporation, Monday, November 10th, from noon until 1:30 p.m., in Room 203C of the Convention Center. During this event, International will unveil the new in-line, six-cylinder engines for its 4000, 7000, and 8500 series trucks. Speakers include several International executives: Jacob Thomas, Managing Director, International In-Line Engines; Patrick Charbonneau, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer; and David Price, Vice President, Core Engineering and Product Support.

For more information about the program, or to register for the 2002 SAE Truck & Bus Meeting & Exhibition, go to webpage http://www.sae.org/truck or call SAE Customer service at 1.877.606.7323 (U.S. and Canada only) or +1.724.776.4970 (outside the U.S. and Canada).

    SAE Media contact:
    Keith Hancock 724.772.8516 (office);
    724.612.4992(cell)

    SAE Conference contact:
    Ken Kallis  724.772.7199

PRNewswire - Nov. 7