Its Show Time!

Its Show Time!

With the latest in advanced technology vehicles rolling into place at the Washington Convention Center, an advertising and marketing program in full swing, and industry, Capitol Hill and federal regulatory agency officials on deck to participate in numerous industry and media events, The 2011 Washington Auto Show, is set to launch its Public Policy Days next week, Jan. 26-27.

Public Policy Days kick off on Wed., Jan. 26 at 1 pm in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building with The Green Car Summit, where more than 400 members of Congress and senior staffers have registered to listen in on a provocative panel discussion on energy independence for the U.S. and the auto industrys role in that. Produced jointly by The WAS and Green Car Journal, the Summit will be opened by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Or.) and the symposium panel discussion will be chaired by Max Baloga, BMW vice president for engineering/US. The panel will include representatives from Ford, Hyundai, Argonne National Laboratory, NRG Energy, the Center for American Progress and Rentech, a producer of synthetic fuels. Warren Brown, automotive columnist for The Washington Post, will co-moderate the event with Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal.

Public Policy Day on site at the Auto Show is set for Thursday, January 27, 2011, commencing with a breakfast sponsored by Mazda, to be followed by a keynote OEM presentation by Mark Reuss, president GM/North America, mid-morning. Among a full complement of other press conferences scheduled throughout the day is one to be conducted by BMW/NA president Jim ODonnell and another by Volkswagen of America president Jonathan Browning. VWoA will also sponsor lunch.

In the afternoon, the Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE) will hold its Plenary Session with a panel discussion moderated by Karl Simon, deputy director, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with panel participants, including Ronald Medford, deputy administrator, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) , Mike Stanton, president of the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM) and Ed Tonkin, chairman of NADA.

Evening activities on Jan. 27 begin with the annual Sneak Peek Reception and Preview for members of Congress, senior Hill staffers, federal regulators, administration operatives, diplomats and auto industry executives. WANADA dealer members and guests will have valet parking and cloak room facilities available to them at the L Street entrance. Light refreshments, hors doeuvres and side show entertainment will add to the festive character of the Preview. The Sneak Peek Preview is sponsored by the Auto Alliance, AIAM, NADA, EDTA, MEMA, Novozymes, Scuderi Engine, and Hargrove.