Click here for information and to register for Automotive Tech Week 2021.
For those moving automotive technology forward or just following industry trends, it’s time again for some face time – literally.
Automotive Tech Week 2021 will run Nov. 15-19, with the first three days live at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, MI, as well as online.
The remaining two days of the global exhibition and conference, co-produced by Wards Intelligence, WardsAuto and Informa Tech Automotive Group, will be held online only.
Its predecessor event, the Summer Festival of Automotive, was held online in August 2020 because of COVID-19 travel and accessibility restrictions.
Automotive Tech Week 2021 combines five world-class events (TU-Automotive Detroit, WardsAuto Interiors and UX Conferences, WardsAuto Engine & Propulsion Summit, ADAS & Autonomous Vehicles) attracting an engaged community of automotive tech’s brightest lights sharing a week of insights and valuable content.
“Automotive Tech Week brings together the entire automotive tech industry to discuss and debate the impact of new and developing trends in the market, including electrification, autonomous vehicles, mobility, connectivity and software,” says Caroline Hicks, director-automotive events for Informa Tech.
Attendees at 2019 WardsAuto UX Conference able to experience vehicle technology.
Attendees will be able to visit more than 50 show-floor exhibitors and will have a front-row seat for the research expertise of Wards Intelligence, the reach and community of WardsAuto and the connection and event power of Informa Tech Automotive Group.
Automotive Tech Week incorporates two sub-conferences:
- FOCUS: Electrification & Advanced Propulsion will offer live sessions about powertrain trends on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 15 and 16, at the Suburban Collection Showplace, as well as online content Nov. 18 and 19.
- FOCUS: Future Dealer will be an online-only conference hosted Thursday Nov. 18. This first-ever WardsAuto event will include panel discussions on post-COVID retailing, contending with the direct-to-consumer sales model and the impact of electrification on the dealer network.
A ceremony will be held Monday, Nov. 15, at Suburban Collection Showplace to celebrate 2021 Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems winners.
Also live at Suburban Collection, award ceremonies will be held for winners of 2021 Wards 10 Best Interiors and 2021 Wards 10 Best UX On Tuesday, Nov. 16, and Wednesday, Nov. 17, respectively.
It will be the first time all Wards 10 Best winning teams will receive their trophies during one week-long conference. Nearly all the 10 Best vehicles will be on display at Suburban.
So that on-site and online audiences can get the most out of the content, expert-led sessions will be delivered in multiple formats:
- On-Site & Online Live: Live onsite at Suburban Collection and in our online platform.
- On-Site Live & Online Playback: Filmed live, edited and uploaded to our online event platform.
- Online Content: Placed on demand as part of the content library.
Of the event’s more than 100 speakers, 15 will deliver keynote addresses on electrification, autonomy, mobility, cockpit of the future and other topics. Keynoters also will participate in panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions.
Keynote speakers include:
- Frank Abkenar, global engineering director, Ford (pictured left, receiving 2020 Wards 10 Best award from Drew Winter)
- Brigitte Courtehoux, CEO, Free2Move
- Michael Ebenhoch, head of development-passenger driveline technology, ZF
- Ken Morris, vice president-electric, autonomous and fuel cell vehicle programs, General Motors
- Darren Palmer, general manager for EVs, Ford
- Gill Pratt, chief scientist-Toyota Motor Corp. and CEO, Toyota Research Institute
- Cheryl Thompson, founder and CEO, Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion & Advancement.
Also speaking will be Alexander Schaab, vice president-connected and autonomous vehicles at Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America.
The live event will include interviews for Informa Tech’s ongoing “Automotive Inspire” series that will spotlight women and people of color who are making a difference in automotive tech from Stellantis, Toyota, GM, Nissan and Dunamis Clean Energy Partners.
Masterclass and workshop interactive classroom sessions will be held for a limited number of attendees.
“Our CxO keynote speakers, from Ford, Wireless Car, General Motors, Hyundai, Toyota and Stellantis will share the latest automaker strategies around these trends, while our 100-plus additional speakers take a deep dive into particular trends,” Hicks says.
“The event provides a place for our community to meet with friends and colleagues and celebrate innovation and success, through our awards ceremonies, networking meetups, vehicle tours and demonstrations.
