Global Topics Headline Asia Pacific Automotive Engineering Conference

WARRENDALE, Pa., July 30, 2007 -- Opportunities for the global automotive industry and the transportation challenges in emerging markets are but two of the critical topics that will be explored by experts at the Asia Pacific Automotive Engineering Conference, hosted by SAE International, set Aug. 5, 2007-8 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, Calif.

Among the conference's keynote speakers is V. Sumantran. The former head of Tata Motors automobile business and president of the Automobile Research Association of India, Sumantran consults in the areas of business, marketing, technology and manufacturing.

Mihaela Gradu, a specialist in global trade and compliance for the Timken Company, is slated as a global trade management plenary speaker. Gradu is responsible for export compliance, consulting and training on global trade topics. She has more than 20 years experience in international business.

Andre Metzner, manager of strategy and communications at DaimlerChrysler's Hybrid Development Center, also will be a featured speaker. Metzner is an expert on alternative powertrain technologies and has extensive experience with fuel cells and hybrids.

SAE International will host this shared event, with patronage by the International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies (FISITA).

The event is organized by the APAC member societies, including SAE International; The Korean Society of Automotive Engineers; Society of Automotive Engineers-Australasia; Society of Automotive Engineers of China; SAE India; SAE Indonesia; Iran Society of Automotive Engineering; Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan; The Institute of Automotive Engineers-Sri Lanka; Society of Automotive Engineers of Thailand and the Vietnamese Society of Automotive Engineers. The conference's General Chairman is Dr. James Smith, Director of the Center for Industrial Research of Applied Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at West Virginia University.