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Automotive Industry

BMW `Takes Over' SAE Congress - Brief Article

Automotive Industries, Oct, 1999 by Marjorie Sorge

For the first time, a foreign automaker will host the annual SAE Congress and Exposition in Detroit. BMW is in charge of coordinating much of the 2000 show.

"We have been looking at going overseas," says David Amati, director of SAE's professional meetings and activities group. "We need more leadership from outside North America. This will give us more European influence and a broader focus globally."

Last year German supplier Bosch hosted the show. Robert Oswald, head of Bosch North America, chaired the event. As is SAE tradition, the chairperson of the current year's Congress picks the host for next year. Oswald picked BMW. Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart, member of BMW's board of management, will chair SAE 2000.

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"We are getting our company to think more globally and get involved in more issues like the environment and improving mobility," says Bruno Dehler, BMW North America's manager of supplier support and purchasing strategy, who is coordinating much of the event.

The German automaker has aggressive plans to upgrade next year's show, including bringing in gourmet chef Jimmy Schmidt, of Detroit's upscale Rattlesnake Club, to prepare the food for the traditional Thursday night gala banquet, slated for March 9. That's a welcome respite from the-typical chicken, green beans and potatoes fare. Keynote speaker will be MIT professor and noted author Lester Thurow.

There will also be three luncheon seminars covering major industry issues. One will discuss how to attract more students to the engineering field and how to improve their education. The session on women in the auto industry will discuss putting the voice of the customer into vehicles. The third will cover the harmonization of global standards.

"This will brand us as a more global event," says Amati. "That's a big step in that direction for us." Look for another non-North American company to host SAE 2001.

Automotive Industry

BMW `Takes Over' SAE Congress - Brief Article

Automotive Industries, Oct, 1999 by Marjorie Sorge

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