Dana, Panasonic Are Back and in New Surroundings at SAE 2004 World Congress in Detroit

WARRENDALE, Pa., Jan. 29, 2004 -- Dana Corporation is back in the SAE World Congress after a three year absence in the exhibit hall. The Toledo, Ohio-based supplier of components, modules, and systems for a wide variety of vehicle applications will sponsor the new Dana Technical Innovation Forum, a 200-seat theater located on the exhibit floor. The Dana Technical Innovation Forum will feature select, high-interest sessions of the Congress' world-renowned technical program. The SAE 2004 World Congress is set for March 8 - 11 at Cobo Center in downtown Detroit, Michigan.

"Dana not only is a top 10 supplier company and is among the top 200 global corporations, but they're also a company that has had a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with SAE throughout the nearly 100 years we have both existed. It is very important for us that we have Dana back on the exhibit hall in a format that meets their business objectives," said David Amati, Director of Automotive Business at SAE.

Southfield, Michigan-based Panasonic Automotive Systems has created the "Panasonic ELS Surround DVD Audio Challenge", a display of automobiles and SUVs that are outfitted with Panasonic's latest car DVD and surround sound systems. Panasonic wanted to add a high level of interactivity to their space, and the Challenge should do just that. New venture ELS surround six vehicles.

"The SAE World Congress has always been a wonderful show, and this year Panasonic is pleased to add a wonderful sound," said Vince Sarrecchia, president of Panasonic Automotive Electronics Company. "Attendees will be able to hear our six-channel ELS surround-sound system, engineered by Grammy-award winning record producer Elliott Scheiner, in specially-equipped vehicles on the show floor. We are delighted to participate in one of the most important showcases for technological advancement, the SAE World Congress, and we expect Panasonic's new sound system to stand the automotive world on its ear."

Amati is likewise happy that Panasonic is once again an integral part of the SAE World Congress in a new and creative way. "Electronics are such a huge part of vehicle sales appeal and product differentiation today, so we're delighted to have a leading edge company like Panasonic be at the center of the activity in the exhibit hall."

Since 1947, the SAE World Congress has been the world's largest meeting and exposition devoted to automotive engineering and product technology. Each year the world of automotive engineering, design, and technology descends on Cobo Center for the SAE World Congress. It remains the primary forum for the best and brightest technical talent to meet and exchange ideas with their peers.

For the latest information about the SAE 2004 World Congress, see the web page http://www.sae.org/congress

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.