Due to unforeseen circumstances, our staff was unable to attend the 2012 Automotive News World Congress and North American International Auto Show as planned. (Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes the bug.)
As partial consolation, we (and other enthusiasts like yourselves) were fortunately able to peek in on the NAIAS via social media (e.g., via the #NAIAS hash tag on Twitter) and through the extensive media coverage that highlighted global automakers’ latest vehicles and concept cars.
The Automotive News World Conference, thankfully, has given us virtual attendees the additional gift of posting many of their speaker’s presentations online. Here, to start, are some presentation highlights delivered by representatives of Toyota and GM, just two of the many OEMs in the TMASC region. (Chrysler and TMASC neighbor Nissan also presented at the Conference, but they’ll be the subjects of future blog posts of their own.)
Highlights from selected presentations
Bob Carter (Group VP & General Manager of the Toyota Division of Toyota Motor Sales, USA)
Mr. Carter highlighted a tailwind helping new vehicle sales, which is that the US has the fastest-growing population in the industrialized world. He cited total US auto sales of:
- 11.6 million in 2010
- 12.8 million in 2011, and a
- projected 13.6 million in 2012
Carter also characterized the tremendous impact of the US auto industry, noting that it:
- Is the largest manufacturing sector
- Is responsible for 8 million American jobs (with 150,000 new jobs projected over the next 4 years), and
- Has a $500 billion payroll
Steve Girsky, GM Vice Chairman, Corporate Strategy, Business Development, Global Product Planning, and Global Purchasing & Supply Chain
Mr. Girsky highlighted GM’s aims to deliver strong margins and long-term sustainable results through:
- Reducing engineering complexity and churn
- Increasing engineering and capital efficiency, and
- Optimizing purchasing and supply chain
GM’s Girsky also mentioned “new and creative partnerships” with SAIC, LG and Teijin, as well as GM Ventures with Coskata, Mascoma, Bright Automotive, Sakti3, Powermat, Envia Systems, Proterra, Sunlogics, Relay Rides, and “others undisclosed.”
TMASC can help
Whether OEMs are looking for increased capital efficiency and supply chain optimization, or to develop “new and creative partnerships”, TMASC strengths and assets can help. In fact, TMASC visited GM Research Israel last November to learn about some of their innovative developments and to gain insight on how to position our region to recruit related industries. TMASC will continue to pursue creative partnerships with advanced manufacturers in 2012, in order to build upon the value chains growing in our region. Let us know if there are unique partnership models you recommend.
To see additional presentations, please visit autonews.com.