SMMT INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE SUMMIT – MANUFACTURERS DEBATE FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES AND THE UK’S ROLE IN A GLOBAL SECTOR
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has released further detail of the agenda for its fourth SMMT International Automotive Summit, to be held at Clifford Chance, Canary Wharf, on the 12 June, outlining the three sessions that form the day-long Innovation in Ultra-Low Carbon Technology stream, supported by EDF Energy.
Starting with the work of the Automotive Council Technology Group and its bid to secure the development of five ‘sticky’ technologies that will strengthen the long-term future of the UK automotive industry, through the challenges of attracting global R&D investment to UK facilities and an in-depth analysis of the full range of ultra-low carbon technologies coming to market, the stream will address the emerging trends and consider how the UK can win an ongoing share of the growing economic opportunity.
Speaking about the stream, Bethan Carver, Manager of B2C Product Development at EDF Energy said, “The electrification of transport will require the development of innovative technologies to enable motorists to maximise the cost and carbon saving potential of plug in vehicles. Energy suppliers will play a key role in the development and deployment of these technologies and associated customer offers.”
Continued investment in R&D, particularly in the area of low and ultra-low carbon technologies, places UK automotive at the centre of low carbon innovation. On top of consistent year on year reductions in average new car CO2 emissions, the UK market for alternatively-fuelled vehicles reached a record 1.3% market share in 2011. An emerging and receptive market is a great influencing factor attracting investment in R&D, product design and manufacture but an attractive business environment is also key.
Jerry Hardcastle, Vice President Vehicle Design and Development at Nissan Technical Centre Europe will discuss the importance of the collaborative relationships the UK boasts between industry, academia and government before a panel debate on ‘Building Ultra-Low Carbon R&D in UK Automotive’ will look at recent government action to make the UK’s R&D tax credit regime more globally competitive and what still needs to be done.
The afternoon session will bring together a range of senior vehicle manufacturer executives to present on and discuss the range of ultra-low carbon technology being developed by the global industry. From Innovation to Market – turning technologies into revenue will include speeches from Thierry Koskas, Global Head of Electric Vehicles, Renault, and Professor Wolfgang Steiger, Director of Future Technologies, VW Group, in addition to other speakers still to be announced.
Along with opening keynote speeches from Ian Robertson, BMW Board Member, Global Sales and Marketing, and Peter Tyroller, Board of Management, Robert Bosch GmbH, experienced heads from the world of automotive will be seated on the panels for other streams at the Summit covering The changing face of vehicle retail supported by GForces Web Management and Growth in the supply chain, supported by KPMG LLP.
The demand for tickets at the Summit has been significant and all allocated tickets have now been sold. Anyone wishing to attend should email [email protected] to be added to the waiting-list for tickets which become available.
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