Odile Desforges,
Senior Vice President, Purchasing, Renault and Chairman & Managing Director,
Renault Nissan Purchasing Organization

T-Systems session: Information technology in the car (Venue: Le Meridien Art +Tech Hotel)
A discussion of trends in automotive systems, with a particular focus on the growing role of information and communication technologies in the car. Panel members will discuss how traditional vehicle technology is increasingly complemented by information and communication technologies. The latter are growing in importance in key areas of the vehicle. Topics to be discussed include: How much electronics do we need in the car? Who will pay for it? How is new technology marketed?
Panelists include:
Prof. Dr. Marc Drüner,
Managing Partner, trommsdorff + drüner, innovation + marketing consultants GmbH
Dr. Marcus Heitmann,
Global Automotive Senior Consultant, T-System
Giovanni Maria Varazi
Product Strategy Director
Fiat Group Automobiles

Panel Sessions: Virtual engineering
An in-depth look at the growing trend to develop cars using virtual engineering. At a time when the competitive environment requires continuous cost reductions, virtual engineering is a key component of such a strategy. Using computerized modeling techniques, automakers no longer need expensive real prototypes of car models and components. That saves money, reduces time to market and improves quality. Automaker, supplier and specialized virtual engineering company executives discuss what is happening in this area and where the trend is leading.
Confirmed speakers include:
Harald Wester,
Chief Technical Officer, Fiat Group Automobiles SpA & Fiat Group SpA
Stefan Ohlsson,
President Automotive R&D, Semcon Caran AB
Jacques Leveille-Nizerolle,
CEO, CATIA, Dassault Systèmes
Dr. Andras Kemeny,
General Manager, Technical Center for Simulation,
Renault

Tadashi Arashima
President , Toyota Motor Europe