The South African motor industry can learn important lessons and principles from emerging markets – China in particular – in fostering an even more robust strategy for the future. That’s the word from Tim Lee, president of General Motors’ international operations, who will deliver the keynote address at next month’s CAR Conference.

The 2011 CAR Conference, in association with TRACKER, takes place at Nasrec on 12 October as part of the Johannesburg International Motor Show. It will bring together specialist speakers from across the world for a global perspective on the challenges facing automotive manufacturers and suppliers.

Under the spotlight next month will be issues such as the political and economic forces affecting the motor industry, government plans to help realise production of 1,2 million vehicles a year by 2020 and the ramifications of the Consumer Protection Act for the retail sector.

SA industry guru and former McCarthy CEO Brand Pretorius will head the list of distinguished speakers, which will also include economist JP Landman, Naamsa president and VWSA managing director David Powels and RMI chief executive Jeff Osborne.

Among the issues to be discussed are:

• Adapting marketing strategies in a changing automotive market (Greg Levine, sales and marketing director, McLaren Automotive)
• Rebuilding a brand image and the lessons that could be applied in a changing automotive market (Xavier Gobille, managing director, Renault SA)
• Environmental challenges – electric vs. hybrid in an African context (Pierre Loing, vice-president of product planning and zero-emissions business unit at Nissan International)
• How the component industry is adapting to the ever-changing automotive market (Stewart Jennings, Naacam president and chief executive of the PG Group)
• Changing profiles and behaviour of the South African car buyer – demographics and psychographics (Alan Todd, Bateleur Research Solutions).

The CAR Conference is recommended for anyone at management level in any aspect of automotive and component marketing, exporting, manufacturing and retailing. This includes advertising, vehicle finance, fleet managers and buyers, insurance executives, retailers, sales and service managers, human resources managers, shop stewards, and other senior staff in the retail side of the motor industry.

In line with the strong Green message of the conference, CAR has appointed KTP, a Cape-based communications agency with a specialist environmental wing, KTP Green, to publicise the event. Further information on the conference line-up and speaker profiles is available from Kim Taylor at 083 564 4237 or kim@kimtaylorpublicity.co.za or at www.carconference.co.za. For media accreditation, contact Dean Dicks on 021 530 3205 or email, dean@ramsaymedia.co.za.