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Translating Visions Into Actions is Theme of 2005 Automotive News World Congress

DETROIT, Oct. 26 -- Translating business visions into actions that drive profit to the bottom line is the focus of the 2005 Automotive News World Congress, Monday - Thursday, Jan. 17, 2005 - 20 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dearborn, Mich.

Your Growth Imperative: From Vision to Execution is the theme of the 29th annual program for automakers, suppliers and dealers. Nearly three dozen leading executives will discuss strategies for the automotive industry to prosper in an improving U.S. economy, while continuing to struggle with unrelenting cost pressures fueled by competition and retail incentives.

The Automotive News World Congress, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM, features individual morning addresses, afternoon panel roundtables and keynote dinner speakers. This year's speaker roster features executives from automakers DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Mercedes- Benz, MINI USA, Saab and Toyota, including dinner speakers:

* Dieter Zetsche, president and CEO, DaimlerChrysler Corporation (Monday, Jan. 17); and

* Jim Padilla, CEO, Ford Motor Company (Wednesday, Jan. 19).

The roster also features executives from suppliers ASC Incorporated, Dana Corporation, Dassault Systemes, Delphi Corporation, Energy Conversion Devices, Magna International Inc., Metaldyne Inc. and Robert Bosch GmbH, including dinner speaker:

* Michael J. Burns, chairman, president and CEO, Dana Corporation (Monday, Jan. 17).

The 2005 Automotive News World Congress' concurrent afternoon panel programs will address:

* F&I Profits: Making Money the Right Way - Dealership F&I profits are under intense scrutiny from regulators, legislators and the media, but some dealerships are doing well by doing good. This panel will look at how dealerships can shape up their operations and use the focus on ethical F&I practices to build profits.

* Powertrains of the Future - From diesels to gasoline-electric hybrids to fuel cells, the race to develop alternative power plants is accelerating. This panel will look at the latest key technologies that will shape the future plus what to expect next from regulators, suppliers and automakers.

* From Vision to Execution: The Next Big Buzz - Marketing and advertising campaigns are getting bigger and bolder as automakers use innovative approaches to move the metal. This panel will look at factors driving the decision to go bold, where the limits are and what to expect -- or not expect -- as the next big thing.

* Transforming Vehicle Development - Automakers are not only designing cars digitally, they are building them on digitally designed assembly lines. This panel will examine how all the pieces fit together -- from styling to the factory floor layout. It will also examine the software revolution that is speeding development times, cutting costs and changing the auto industry.

The Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards, recognizing manufacturers and their supporting dealer bodies for superior performance in customer treatment, will be announced during the Congress' evening program Tuesday, Jan. 18. Recipients of the Automotive News/PricewaterhouseCoopers Shareholder Value Awards, recognizing financial performance of manufacturers, suppliers and retailers, will be honored at the Wednesday, Jan. 19 Gala Dinner. The BorgWarner Championship Driver's and Team Owner's Trophies will also be presented at the Gala Dinner.

The 2005 Automotive News World Congress will conclude with morning tours of the North American International Auto Show Thursday, Jan. 20.

The early-bird registration fee for all four days of the Automotive News World Congress is $1,395 by Nov. 24. The registration fee is $1,595 after Nov. 24 and the daily rate is $850. Online registration is available at http://www.autonews.com/2005worldcongress . For a complete agenda, or to register, contact the Center for Automotive Research by phone at 866-374-6227 (U.S. only) or 734-929-0498, by fax at 734-662-5736 or via e-mail at AutoNewsRegistration@cargroup.org.

           Additional industry leaders scheduled to address the
                   2005 Automotive News World Congress
                          (as of Oct. 26, 2004)

  Individual Presenters
  *  Bernd Bohr, member of the board of management, Robert Bosch GmbH
  *  Eckhard Cordes, board member, Mercedes Car Group, DaimlerChrysler AG
  *  Trevor Creed, senior vice president design, DaimlerChrysler Corporation
  *  John D. Dingell, congressman, The U.S. House of Representatives
  *  Jim Farley, vice president Scion, Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc.
  *  Stephen Girsky, managing director, Morgan Stanley
  *  Debra Kelly-Ennis, president and COO, Saab Cars USA Inc.
  *  Joe Laymon, group VP, Corporate Human Resources, Ford Motor Company
  *  Tim Leuliette, chairman, president and CEO, Metaldyne Inc.
  *  Paul Wilbur, president and chief executive officer, ASC Incorporated

  Panelists
  *  F&I Profits: Making Money the Right Way

* Ted Cunningham, vice chairman, director of sales and marketing, Bankers Integration Group

* John Held, senior vice president/corporate counsel, Burt Automotive Network

* David N. Robertson, executive director, The Association of Finance and Insurance Professionals

      *  Charley R. Smith, chairman, National Automobile Dealers Association

  *  Powertrains of the Future

* Jean Botti, chief technologist, Delphi Dynamics & Propulsion Innovation Center, Delphi Corporation

* Charles Freese, executive director, Diesel Engineering, GM Powertrain, General Motors

* Roland Hwang, vehicles policy director, Natural Resources Defense Council

* Robert C. Stempel, chairman and CEO, Energy Conversion Devices

* Mary Ann Wright, Escape Hybrid chief engineer, Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Programs, Ford Motor Company

* From Vision to Execution: The Next Big Buzz

* Roger Adams, executive director, Vehicle Brand Marketing & Advertising, General Motors

* Shelly Lazarus, chairman and chief executive officer, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide

* Kerri Martin, marketing communications manager, MINI USA

* Julie Roehm, director marketing communications, DaimlerChrysler Corporation

* Rich Stoddart, Ford Division marketing communications manager, Ford Motor Company

  *  Transforming Vehicle Development
      *  Bernard Charles, president and CEO, Dassault Systemes
      *  Mark Hogan, president, Magna International Inc.
      *  Lori Queen, vehicle line executive - small cars, General Motors