High Tech, Environmentally Friendly Automotive Electronics Prevail At Convergence 2000

26 September 2000
High Tech, Environmentally Friendly Automotive Electronics Prevail At Convergence 2000
    TROY, Mich., Sept. 26 Generating automotive electronics
technologies that improve fuel economy and decrease emissions will be a major
topic of discussion at Convergence 2000, the world's premier automotive
electronics conference.
    A technical session that addresses the role of automotive electronics in
powering vehicles while preserving the environment will take place from 2:30
to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at Cobo Center in Detroit, Mich.
    Participants in this Convergence 2000 session will discuss and attempt to
generate viable solutions for cleaner automotive efficiency, focusing on:

    *  Fuel cells and hybrid vehicles
    *  Advanced vehicle designs and control systems to extract as much energy
       as possible from fuel
    *  Elimination of lead in electronic components to facilitate recycling of
       the whole vehicle

    "Environmentally friendly vehicle systems rely heavily on advanced
automotive electronics, many of which offer drivers the added benefit of
higher performance," said J.T. Battenberg III, chairman, CEO and president of
Delphi Automotive Systems, and chairman of Convergence 2000.
    "With recent developments in fuel cell technology and hybrid vehicles,
automakers and suppliers must collaborate and take advantage of the automotive
electronics revolution -- making Convergence 2000 the 'can't miss' conference
of this season."
    The session will feature presentations by experts from Delphi Automotive
Systems, Ford Motor Company, Honda R&D Company, Ltd., Matsushita Electric
Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic), Toyota Motor Corporation and Volkswagen AG.
    Convergence 2000, hosted by Delphi Automotive Systems ,
provides the backdrop for more than 6,000 industry leaders participating in
this unparalleled global forum.  Held Oct. 16 - 18 at Cobo Center in Detroit
with the theme of "Automotive Electronics: Delivering Technology's Promise,"
Convergence 2000 will feature much more than state-of-the-art exhibits,
leading-edge technical sessions and breakthrough white papers.
    This year's conference boasts an impressive list of keynote speakers,
including Scott McNealy, CEO, Sun Microsystems; Shoichiro Irimajiri,
representative director and chairman, Sega Enterprises; Carly Fiorina, CEO,
Hewlett-Packard; C. Michael Armstrong, CEO, AT&T; William Ford, Jr., chairman
of the board, Ford Motor Company and John F. "Jack" Smith, Jr., chairman,
General Motors Corporation.
    Convergence 2000 is sponsored by the Convergence Transportation
Electronics Association (CTEA), which founded the conference more than 25
years ago, the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).  Proceeds from the conference benefit
the Convergence Education Foundation (CEF), a nonprofit organization devoted
to developing a passion for mathematics and science in school-aged children.
    For general conference information, contact Denise (Denny) Freitag at
248-813-3085.  To register online or view the complete conference technical
session schedule, visit the Convergence 2000 web site at
http://www.convergence2000.org