Detroit, Michigan — July 25, 2014 — The executive leadership team from I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair will address I-CAR’s investment to support the industry, its initiatives and key topics raised at the one-day I-CAR Conference in Detroit.
The automotive landscape is rapidly changing due to vehicle-efficiency requirements, technology advancements and what is being required of the collision repair industry over the next couple of decades. The Conference, Driving Excellence in Technology, taking place July 30, features top automotive industry innovators who will be discussing new developments in vehicle technology and their impact on the collision repair industry.
The executive leadership team, including I-CAR CEO & President John Van Alstyne and directors, will address I-CAR’s investment to support the industry, its initiatives and key topics raised at the one-day I-CAR Conference.
I-CAR, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, is at the forefront of helping OEMs, suppliers, auto dealers and collision repair businesses get ahead of the fast approaching “Technical Tsunami,†an era where advanced vehicle production will challenge the technical abilities of today’s workforce to provide complete, safe and quality repairs.
The Conference’s goal is to inspire industry leaders to think differently about repairability amidst the changing landscape, to understand a ‘Learning Culture’ is required for success, and bring awareness to how I-CAR is building a new model of education and knowledge to better serve and support the entire collision repair ecosystem.
I-CAR key initiatives to support an “Ecosystem of Excellence:”
- Driving awareness of the need for the industry to rapidly embrace and adopt a ‘Learning Culture’ including the associated benefits
- Repairability Technical Support (RTS) program and related technical knowledge portal
- Large investments in customer tools and programs such as www.i-car.com website, learning content management system (LCMS) and the RTS technical knowledge portal to provide better training and knowledge accessibility and customer experience
- New welding program changes and increased CRN and DRP network adoption
- Consumer awareness campaigns beginning summer of 2015
Conference key topics:
- Ford: CAFE and vehicle optimization challenge, the new aluminum-intensive 2015 Ford F-150, Collision Repair Service Strategy
- Lightweighting: carbon fiber, advanced Steels, aluminum
- Vehicle technology: The changing DNA of the vehicle
- Advanced electronics, communications and safety: collision avoidance, connected vehicles, vehicle data
Companies presenting at the Conference:
- Ford Motor Company
- General Motors Corporation
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Alcoa · Steel Market Development Institute
- Robert Bosch LLC
- The University of Michigan; Larry Burns PhD, and Transportation Research Institute
- SCG Management
The I-CAR Conference will be held July 30, 2014 in Detroit at the Cobo Center. The press briefing will be held in the Grand Ballroom South Pre-Function (the foyer outside of Grand Ballroom A&B) immediately following the Conference from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information on I-CAR, please visit I-CAR.ca.
To learn more about NACE, please refer to their website at NACEexpo.com.
