General Motors CEO Mary Barra will deliver an opening speech at the the 21st World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) on Sunday, September 7, in Detroit. Her speech will address changing transportation environments around the world and the steadily evolving technology of connected, autonomous, and electric vehicles.
The ITS World Congress will attract more than 10,000 international business, government, and research leaders to Detroit, making it the largest transportation technology event of 2014. The event will showcase the newest transportation innovations and attendees will share ideas and strategies for advancing the development and deployment of transportation solutions to help solve current transportation challenges all over the world.
“Connectivity may drive more positive change for customers than any other technological innovation our industry has produced in decades,” Barra said. “Anywhere in the world that we connect cars to cars, and cars to their surroundings, we will save lives, save time and protect the environment. But only if automakers, suppliers and regulators move forward together to make it happen. That’s what makes this year’s ITS World Congress such a landmark event.”
GM is also one of the key anchor sponsors of the 2014 ITS World Congress, which alternates each year between the Americas, Europe, and Asia. This year, the event will feature more than 20 interactive demonstrations including a connected and autonomous vehicle Technology Showcase on Michigan’s Belle Isle, a custom racetrack where students will build and compete in electric vehicle contests, an Entrepreneurial Village for new transportation startups and more.
“We are elated to have Mary Barra launch this year’s ITS World Congress and if you want to know what direction the future of transportation is headed, then you cannot afford to miss this event,” said Scott Belcher, president and CEO of ITS America. “Southeast Michigan is at the heart of a growing intelligent transportation industry that will forever change how we move people and goods. There is no better place to showcase the next generation of high-tech innovation in transportation than in a resurgent Detroit.”
In addition to Barra, the ITS World Congress Honorary Committee includes Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford, Chrysler Group Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne, Penske Corporation Chairman Roger Penske, Quicken Loans Chairman Dan Gilbert, Compuware President and CEO Robert Paul, HNTB Infrastructure CEO Robert Slimp, and University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman, among others.
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