Green Car Summit: Auto Industry Rising to the Challenge

Leading Automakers and Industry Organizations to Discuss Advanced Technologies and Forward-Looking Strategies During Washington Auto Show's International Media Day

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Answers to some of the most serious challenges facing the auto industry will be explored January 22 at the Green Car Summit during The Washington Auto Show's International Media Day. Presented by the auto enthusiast magazine, Green Car Journal, the Summit will convene at 2:00 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Leading auto industry executives will discuss such challenges as petroleum displacement, fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions and probe the range of responses.

Moderated by Ron Cogan, the editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and GreenCar.com, the auto industry panel will include Sue Cischke, senior vice president of Sustainability, Environment, and Safety Engineering at Ford; Gregory Cesiel, Fuel Cell Vehicles program director at General Motors; Reg Modlin, Director of Environmental and Energy Planning at Chrysler; Tom Strickland, director of Technical and Regulatory Affairs, Environment at Toyota; and David Geanacopoulos, director of Industry-Government Relations at Volkswagen of America.

"The Green Car Summit will address the context of the great effort unfolding in automakers' labs by examining how and when advanced technologies and alternative fuels will make it to the market and which offer the greatest potential for change," Cogan says.

The Summit's second panel, moderated by Washington Post automotive columnist Warren Brown, will garner perspectives from organizations at the forefront of advanced fuel and technology activities. Panelists include Brian Wynne, President of the Electric Drive Transportation Association; Bob Dinneen, President of the Renewable Fuels Association; Jeff Serfass, President of the National Hydrogen Association; Rich Kolodziej, President of NGVAmerica; and Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

Kicking off the Summit, a Green Car Parade featuring a lineup of eco-friendly cars will conclude at the convention center's L Street entrance at 1:45 p.m.

The Washington Auto Show, scheduled from Jan. 23 to Jan. 27, connects the auto industry with the public policy process by uniting Washington's political elite with auto industry leaders. With its theme of "Engineered for the Future," the show provides an important platform for "green" technologies.

For more information about the 2008 show, visit washingtonautoshow.com. Additional information about Green Car Journal can be found at www.greencar.com.

202-249-5060 after Jan. 20