2004 WASHINGTON AUTO SHOW

Stempel Kicks Off Auto Show With Focus on Technology

–Every so often we hear that the auto business isn’t what it used to be, suggesting that the glory days may be past. But as this year’s [Washington Auto Show] theme says, ‘History with a Future,’ the best days in the auto business are still ahead. Looking over the displays on the show floor confirms that this is another very good year,” said Robert C. Stempel, the keynote luncheon speaker at last Tuesday’s Press Preview Day, cosponsored by WANADA and the Washington Automotive Press Association (WAPA).

Stempel, the former chairman and CEO of General Motors and current chairman of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) made it clear that technology is the key to the industry’s successful past and bright future. He pointed out that the new models on display at the auto show are –loaded” with sophisticated electronic and computer technology that provide –instant starts, smooth operation and maximum fuel economy with minimum emissions,” as well as improved reliability, durability and safety.

–We are seeing more of the technology features focusing on things that are useful to, or provide value and convenience to the customer, not just technology to be high tech,” said Stempel. And the next big impact on technology will be hybrid vehicles, he predicted.

–Every so often in this industry a change or invention occurs that alters the business in ways we can’t image at the time,” said Stempel. He noted that by the time WANADA was formed in 1917, –the choice of what engine or motor would power future automobiles had been established after 30 years of experimentation.” Steam engines and electric motors had already given way to the gasoline combustion engine. The invention of the electric self-starter in 1912, which eliminated dangerous hand-cranking, was already in 98% of vehicles by 1917. Ownership also increased with the introduction of the automatic transmission in the late 1930s.

Another of those –important inventions that changed the auto business” began in the 1990s with battery-powered cars and progressed to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), cars that combine small gasoline engines with electric drive. For 2004, Stempel cited the second generation Prius HEV (recipient of the John Lynker Excellence in Engineering Award), the Honda Civic HEV, and planned HEVs from Ford, GM, VW and BMW.

He said hybrids will have a big impact on the industry, including no loss of convenience or performance to the consumer, big gains in fuel economy and a significant reduction in auto-related emissions. Hybrids will also fuel growth in automotive volume world wide.

–And the bigger the vehicle, the bigger the fuel economy savings and emission reduction, so we can expect to see full size pickups, SUVs and buses as hybrids,” Stempel added.

Hydrogen powered vehicles are also on the horizon –whenever the auto industry decides to replace the internal combustion engine with a fuel cell,” he said, adding that –it would be a great advantage to the industry to make this transition as soon as possible.”

Stempel predicted that hybrids would be a –sea of change for the industry.” And on the visual side, he said, –automotive style is back,” with vehicles of every description that offer something for everyone.”

–The auto business is truly a ‘History With a Future’,” he concluded.