WANADA promotes Washington as the Public Policy Auto Show on the global circuit to OEMs in Geneva last week
A contingent of WANADA leadership and organizers of The Washington Auto Show (WAS) travelled to the Geneva Auto Show last week to meet with OEM exhibitors and industry leaders about Washingtons position as the public policy show among annual new vehicle expositions around the world.
The Geneva Show is one of the top venues for auto shows internationally, so attending press days there afforded our WANADA team an unparalleled opportunity to interact with automakers and auto show organizers at the highest levels related to The WAS position vis-a-vis U.S. lawmakers, said Barbara Pomerance, WAS communications and media relations director.
Part of the WAS visit included a meeting with the OICA board, which oversees credentialing for auto shows around the world. Specifically, WAS representatives met with OICAs Exhibition Committee, chaired by Laurence Massenet of France, which establishes policy for participation by automobile manufacturers in international motor shows. OICA also establishes the Calendar of International Exhibitions, which are auto shows it recognizes.
That was just the beginning of Washington’s whirlwind visit to Geneva with WAS officials meeting with key leadership at Saab, Volvo, KIA, China’s BYD (Build Your Dreams), India’s Tata Motors, Ford, General Motors, Jaguar/Land Rover and others. A meeting with Bernhard Koehler, founder and COO of Fisker Automotive, proved productive, with Fisker giving serious consideration to participation in the 2012 Washington Auto Show.
WAS organizers met with a wide array of other OEM notables and auto show operatives in Geneva, to include Stefan Jacoby, president of Volvo Cars; James O’Sullivan, president of Mazda North America; Mike O’Driscoll, managing director, Jaguar Cars/ Land Rover; and Gary Temple, president of Jaguar/Land Rover, North America.
Capping off the WAS contingents fast-paced visit was a meeting with Don Beyer, the U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland, who, with his wife, Megan, hosted the group for an elegant dinner at the U. S. Embassy residence in Bern. Don, of course, is a principal in Don Beyer Volvo of Northern Virginia.
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