Flexible Manufacturing is the Focus of 2009 Automotive News Manufacturing Conference

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 18, 2009 -- Over a dozen of the automotive industry's top executives leading the way in rapid response and flexibility will address delegates at the 2009 Automotive News Manufacturing Conference June 8-10 at the Ross Bridge Resort in Birmingham, Ala. The event is sponsored by Deloitte.

The conference theme, The Art of the Flexible: Production Strategies in Turbulent Times, spotlights new manufacturing strategies that companies are developing to transform the U.S. auto industry.

Joe Hinrichs, Group Vice President Global Manufacturing, Ford Motor Company and Gary Cowger, Group Vice President Global Manufacturing and Labor Relations, General Motors will address the conference during the dinner program. The evening will also include the presentation of the Automotive News Suppliers' Choice Awards. Based on results of a survey conducted by J.D. Power and Associates, the awards recognize original equipment manufacturers that best encourage, solicit, implement and reward suppliers' innovations as part of their total business plan.

Automotive News Manufacturing Conference presentations kick off with individual morning remarks by:

  --  Mark Gardner, Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP
  --  William C. (Bill) Taylor, President & CEO, Mercedes-Benz U.S.
      International, Inc.
  --  Charles D. (Chuck) Ernst, Senior Vice President and Plant Manager,
      Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC
  --  Josef Kerscher, President, BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC
  --  Don Jackson, President, Manufacturing, and Production Senior Advisor
      to the Board of Directors, Volkswagen Group of America
  --  Steve St. Angelo, Senior Vice President, Toyota Motor Engineering &
      Manufacturing, North America, Inc.

  --  Laurie Harbour, President, Harbour-Felax Group

Sharing insights during an afternoon panel discussion around the theme Rapid Response: Adapting To Sudden Shifts In Customer Demand will be:

  --  Dan Bednarzyk, Vice President of Manufacturing (at Canton, MISS
      plant), Nissan North America Inc.
  --  Bennie Fowler, Group Vice President Quality, Ford Motor Company
  --  Ashley Frye, Director - Production, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing
      Alabama, LLC
  --  Richard Morris, Assembly Manager, BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC

  --  Keith Updike, Managing Director, BBK

The conference's agenda also includes a VIP tour of Honda's Manufacturing Plant in Lincoln.

The 2009 Automotive News Manufacturing Conference is expected to attract 300 OEM and supplier executives involved in manufacturing, purchasing, logistics, information systems, technology and engineering.

Registration for the Automotive News Manufacturing Conference is $795 per person. Dinner-only tickets, including the pre-dinner reception, are available for $175 per person or $1,750 for a table of ten. Visit www.autonews.com/manufacturing for a complete agenda and online registration.

The Automotive News Manufacturing Conference is also sponsored by BBK, Clemson University I-CAR, i2 and the Original Equipment Suppliers Association.

Automotive News, a trusted brand in the automotive industry for more than 80 years, serves the North American auto industry. With a 100% paid circulation of more than 70,000 subscribers, it provides in-depth coverage of the industry and is written for automakers, dealers and suppliers. This unsurpassed industry coverage is complemented by the online product www.autonews.com, e-mail newsletters, breaking news alerts, webinars, a daily newscast and a myriad of conferences and events that provide the most up-to-date auto industry information.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Complimentary registration is available to media for the
2009 Automotive News Manufacturing Conference. Register in advance by
contacting Ellen Dennehy at 313-446-6039 or edennehy@autonews.com.

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