DETROIT, April 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson and Opel and Vauxhall CEO Karl Stracke will serve in prominent roles at the 2011 SAE World Congress as General Motors hosts the world's largest gathering of transportation engineers. With the theme of "Charging Forward Together," the annual Congress returns to Cobo Center Tuesday through Thursday.

Akerson will deliver the keynote address at Thursday's closing banquet, while Stracke, its chair, opens this year's Congress.

Engineers representing automakers, suppliers and academia from around the world attend the Congress to share knowledge about new developments in keeping the world on the move. The Congress will highlight the importance of advanced propulsion system technology and improving energy efficiency. LG Chem, which supplies the lithium-ion cells used in the multi-award-winning 2011 Chevrolet Volt, will be event's tier one strategic partner.

In recent months, GM has launched a number of segment-leading new products including the Volt, the Chevrolet Cruze Eco and the eAssist-powered Buick LaCrosse. Many of the engineers, researchers and leaders who helped bring these vehicles to market will participate on panels and in technical sessions emphasizing next-generation propulsion systems, alternative fuels and vehicle occupant safety.  

In his opening ceremony remarks, Stracke will announce a unique collegiate engineering competition designed to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles without compromising performance, safety and consumer acceptability.

During the three-day conference, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from numerous GM leaders including Uwe Grebe, executive director, GM Powertrain Global Advanced Engineering; Michael J. Bly, executive director, Global Electrical Systems; Alan Taub, vice president, Global Research & Development; and Larry Nitz, executive director, Hybrid & Electric Powertrain Engineering.  

GM will also open the nearby Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center for SAE tours of the factory where the world's first extended-range electric vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt, is assembled.

On Thursday, Akerson will close the 2011 Congress with a keynote address at the SAE annual banquet. Akerson's remarks will focus on how vehicle electrification and other technologies are transforming the auto industry.

SAE World Congress: GM panel speakers

Tuesday

• 10 a.m., AVL Leadership Theatre: "Powertrain Strategies for 2017 and Beyond." AVL panelist: Uwe Grebe, executive director, GM Powertrain Global Advanced Engineering
• 10 a.m.,  FEV Powertrain Innovation Forum: "New Transmission Technologies That Could Change the Face of Powertrain Performance." Panelist: Hamid Vahabzadeh, general director, Global Advanced Transmission Engineering, GM Powertrain
• 1 p.m., FEV Powertrain Innovation Forum: "Charging Forward Toward 2017: The Powertrains That Will Get Us There." Panelist: Uwe Grebe, executive director – GM Powertrain Global Advanced Engineering
• 1:30 p.m., AVL Leadership Theatre: "Challenge of Electrification for Personal Mobility." Moderator: Michael J. Bly, executive director, Global Electrical Systems, Hybrids, Electric Vehicles, Batteries, Infotainment, OnStar Engineering

Wednesday

• 9:45 a.m., FEV Powertrain Innovation Forum: "The Top 5 Electrification Technologies for 2011: Will They Electrify the Automotive Industry as We Know it Today?" Panelist:  Larry Nitz, executive director, Hybrid and Electric Powertrain Engineering
• 10:30 a.m., AVL Leadership Theatre: "Charging Forward on Petroleum Alternatives." Panelist: Alan Taub, vice president, Global Research & Development
• 1 p.m., FEV Powertrain Innovation Forum: "It's Homegrown, It's Green and It's Available Right Now:  Has CNG's Time Finally Come?" Panelist: Dick C. Kauling, engineering manager, Gaseous Fuels
• 1:30 p.m., AVL Leadership Theatre: "The Challenges of Implementing New Technologies While Improving Safety." Panelist: Jeff Boyer, executive director, Global Interior Engineering and Safety Performance

Thursday

• 9:45 a.m., FEV Powertrain Innovation Forum: "21st Century Off-Roading: New Powertrains for an Evolving Sport." Panelist: Timothy M. Grewe, chief engineer, Global RWD Hybrid System and director, Global Hybrid Power Electronics and Controls
• 10:30 a.m., AVL Leadership Theater: "Global Collaboration – Next Steps." Panelist: Daniel M. Hancock, vice president, Global Strategic Product Alliances

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE: GM, TSX: GMM), one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 202,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in more than 120 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 30 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall, and Wuling. GM's largest national market is China, followed by the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Italy. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.

SOURCE General Motors