Convergence(R) 2004 Panel Discussions and Technical Sessions Help Pave the Road to World's Most Advanced Vehicles

DEARBORN, Michigan, September 22 -- Convergence 2004, the world's premier automotive electronics conference, provides the backdrop for automotive and electronics leaders as they discuss Vehicle Electronics to Digital Mobility: The Next Generation of Convergence.

    
    Panel discussions include:
    -- Blue Ribbon Panel, Oct. 18:  celebrates 30 years of Convergence with a
       look at the past, present and future of automotive electronics
    -- Moderated Panel, Oct. 19:  automotive electronics expert Paul Hansen
       will lead an interactive panel discussion with global automotive
       manufacturing leaders 
    -- Driver Distraction, Oct. 20: industry and government leaders discuss
       the growing number of consumer electronics in automobiles and how much
       is too much

    
    Convergence 2004 technical sessions: 
    -- Mobile Digital Entertainment: A Revolution in the Media Industry -
       Robert Schumacher, Delphi Corp.
    -- Automotive On & Off Board Diagnostics - Gunter Hertel, 
       DaimlerChrysler AG
    -- Supply Chain Management in the Digital World - Brian Althaver, Jabil
       Circuit, Inc.
    -- User Interface Challenges Amid the Increasing Complexity of Automotive
       Interiors - Jim Geschke, Johnson Controls, Inc.
    -- Systems Architecture: Physical Structures - Peter Thoma, ELMOS
       Semiconductor AG
    -- Impact of Consumer Electronics on Automotive Electronics - John Fikany,
       Microsoft Corp.
    -- Systems Architecture: Software - Meg Selfe, IBM Corp.
    -- X-by-Wire - Aly Badaway, TRW Automotive
    -- Business Process Transformations Needed - Raj Desai, IBM Corp.
    -- Active Safety - Dave Baxter, Toyota Technical Center
    -- Powertrain - Dieter Bergmann, BMW Group
    -- Balancing Mobility Features with Cost, Quality - Ben Baker, General
       Motors Corp.
    -- Digitally Driving & Consumer Value - Reiner Emig, Robert Bosch Corp.
    -- Regulatory & Environmental Impacts - John German, American Honda Motor
       Company, Inc.
    -- Rate of Change in Electronics v. Other Industries - Jim Buczkowski,
       Ford Motor Company

Convergence 2004 Gold Sponsors are Ford Motor Company, Robert Bosch Corporation, Delphi Corporation, DENSO International America, Inc., Freescale Semiconductor, General Motors Corporation, IBM Corporation, Motorola Automotive, Toyota Motor Corporation and Yazaki North America, Inc. In 2002, Convergence attracted more than 9,000 attendees and media from around the world. This year, Ford, event host and organizer, has boosted exhibition space, accepted more white papers and organized more technical sessions than ever before.

For more information or to register, visit http://www.convergence2004.org

/Web site: http://www.convergence2004.org /