Society of Automotive Analysts' 2005 Automotive Outlook Conference Features Stallkamp and Bruynesteyn as Headliners

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jan. 5, 2005 -- The Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA) -- in partnership with WJR Radio (760AM) -- will present its 17th annual Automotive Outlook Conference Tuesday, January 11, 2005 in conjunction with the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The theme of this year's conference is "Survival in the Auto Industry: What's It Going To Take?"

SAA President Craig Cather (CSM Worldwide) notes that "powerful market forces are squeezing the domestic auto industry: high costs and shortages of raw materials, huge legacy costs for healthcare and pensions, continuing loss of market share, OEMs' demands for lower prices from suppliers and expectations that they participate in warranty and product development costs, falling prices for used vehicles, competition from foreign automakers and low- cost offshore suppliers -- all while consumers expect greater quality, comfort, economy and safety -- and Wall Street demands better stock performance from both OEMs and suppliers.

"Where will it end? A recent study noted that 20,000 of the 30,000 suppliers in business in 1990 had disappeared by 2000, another 2,000 have since gone by the wayside, and still another 4,000 suppliers will evaporate by 2010.

"And what about the domestic vehicle manufacturers? More new models from both domestic and offshore automakers are flooding the market, with offshore manufacturers moving aggressively into traditional domestic market strongholds and taking market share.

"How will it all shakeout? What are the strategies that domestic suppliers and automakers will need to adopt? And who will the survivors be?"

Confirmed presenters, their affiliations and their topics include ...

THOMAS STALLKAMP, Industrial Partner, Ripplewood Holdings; former vice chairman of MSX International and former vice chairman of DaimlerChrysler Corporation. "OEM/Supplier Survival Through Collaboration -- Not Confrontation." Mr. Stallkamp will be the conference's luncheon keynote presenter.

MICHAEL BRUYNESTEYN, Senior Vice President and Senior Autos & Auto Parts Analyst at Prudential Equity Group, LLC; former head of General Motors' Investor Relations worldwide. "Overview of the Industry: What Will It Take To Survive?" Mr. Bruynesteyn will open the conference, setting the tone for the day's discussions.

JOHN HENKE, JR, PhD, President of Planning Perspectives Inc, and Professor of Marketing in the School of Business Administration at Oakland University (Rochester, MI). "OEM Survival Through Better Relations With Suppliers."

UMAR RIAZ, North American Managing Partner - Automotive, Accenture. "High Performance in the Automotive Supplier Industry."

AUROBIND STAPATHY, Partner, McKinsey & Company. "Supplier Survival by Right Restructuring."

DOUG MAULBETSCH, Executive Director - The Americas, gedas AG. "Supplier Survival Through Outsourcing -- The Right Way."

CHIEF ECONOMISTS FROM THE US BIG 3 - Ellen Hughes-Cromwick (Ford Motor Company), Mustafa Mohatarem (General Motors) and Van Jolissaint (DaimlerChrysler).

The conference will run from 8:00 a.m. (breakfast at 7:30 a.m.) to approx. 2:00 p.m. at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit. Complimentary shuttle service is provided by NAIAS between the Marriott and Cobo Center where the auto show is staged. Secure on-line registration now available at http://www.cybersaa.org/ .

The Society of Automotive Analysts is dedicated to providing outstanding educational programs and superior networking opportunities to its members. SAA offers conferences, programs, its website and other forums in which to discuss, debate, and learn about a broad variety of subjects and timely industry issues.