Chrysler's Ralph Gilles to Headline 2011 Ward's Auto Interiors Conference

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --  Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Car Brand and Chrysler Group LLC Senior Vice President – Product Design will deliver the keynote address at the Ward's Auto Interiors Conference, offering key insights into Chrysler's vision for tomorrow's vehicle interior.

The Ward's Auto Interiors Conference, North America's only conference dedicated to the automotive interior, will be held May 17, 2011 at the Henry Hotel in Dearborn, MI. The day-long event covers virtually every aspect of the modern automotive interior, with keynote addresses from key industry figures, informative panel discussions, and product demonstrations from major suppliers.

The conference will also unveil winners of the annual Ward's 10 Best Interiors, the top honor bestowed upon designers of automotive interiors. The designers from the winning interior programs will be called to the stage to accept their awards and recognize contributions from team members and vendors.

Attendees will have their choice of conference sessions, each focusing on key aspects of automotive interiors, from design to electronics to demographics:

• Connectivity in the Cockpit
• Latest Eco-Friendly Interior Technologies
• What Consumers Need
• A Fresh Look at the HMI and Center Stack
• Designing Interiors for all Five Senses
• Redefining Luxury
• Less is More: The New Small Car Interior
• Designing with an Eye on Safety

Sessions will feature top talent from vehicle manufacturers and suppliers sharing the perspectives of designers, material engineers, marketers, and other job functions with key roles in the creation and roll-out of tomorrow's automotive interiors.

In addition, the winners of the first Ward's Auto Interiors Student Design Competition will be announced. The competition, sponsored by International Automotive Components (IAC) and Lear Corporation, with support from SAE International, will showcase the winning designs of students from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI. Students were asked to create a vehicle interior for a tech-savvy and green-minded young professional.

Registration for the event is now live at www.autointeriors.com.

Ward's Automotive Group is a world-leading provider of auto industry news, data, and analysis, having served the industry's information needs for more than 80 years. Ward's AutoWorld is a monthly magazine serving automotive professionals.  WardsAuto.com is an online subscription service delivering virtually all the industry news, data, and analysis compiled by Ward's Automotive Group, the world's leader in automotive industry information. A Southfield, MI - based division of Penton Media, Inc., Ward's Automotive Group also publishes the weekly industry newsletter Ward's Automotive Reports, the monthly magazine Ward's Dealer Business, and offers a wealth of other automotive information services including reference annuals, online databases, and customized data reports.

About Penton

As a leading, independent, business-to-business media company, Penton knows business and how to create and disseminate the vital content that moves markets. Penton is where professionals turn to gain the critical insight, expert analysis, and relevant connections needed to compete and succeed. Headquartered in New York City, the privately held company is owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP, and its co-investors. For additional information on the company and its businesses, visit www.penton.com.

SOURCE Penton