Did you know Illinois companies currently have 20,300 employees in product areas that are forecasted to grow as vehicles switch to electric power?

Automotive electrification is happening at breathtaking speed, which brings considerable growth opportunities, as well as risks for Illinois companies that produce components for internal combustion engine vehicles.

IMEC welcomes experts from Center for Automotive Research (CAR) to provide a synopsis of the latest content from CAR on the rapid electrification taking place in the automotive industry, including key production forecasts. They will also discuss CAR’s analysis of the automotive industry in Illinois, covering topics like:

• The results of CAR’s analysis
• The opportunities and risks electric vehicles brings to the state’s automotive stakeholders
• The role that automotive industry plays in the Illinois economy and why the state is ranked 7th nationwide in the number of automotive suppliers.

CAR’s analysis includes estimates of how many Illinois companies stand to benefit from vehicle electrification, how many are at risk, and the employment impacts these changes would bring.

The webinar will conclude with recommendations to Illinois automotive stakeholders on how to leverage the state’s considerable assets to minimize the risks brought by electrification and to maximize the growth opportunities in key product areas.

PRESENTERS

Bernard Swiecki | Director, Automotive Communities Partnership (ACP) and Director-Research, Center for Automotive Research

Bernard Swiecki serves as Director of the Automotive Communities Partnership (ACP) at the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), as well as a Director, Research.

Bernard has written and managed research in a diverse array of automotive fields pertaining to automaker/supplier relationships, electric and alternative powertrain vehicles. He manages CAR’s analysis of vehicle sales, production, and segmentation data. He has also led trade missions to China, Italy, India, and Russia.

Bernard has authored numerous articles for print publications, as well as a monthly column on the automotive industry. He regularly presents at conferences and industry events in North America, Asia, and Europe, and is a frequent commentator in the local, national, and international media.

Bernard is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA). He has served on the U.S. Department of Commerce Eastern Michigan District Export Council. He received his BA from the University of Michigan in 1998, and his MS from Eastern Michigan University in 2003.

Brett Smith | Director, Technology, Center for Automotive Research

Brett Smith joined CAR in 2000 after 12 years at the University of Michigan’s Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation (OSAT).

During his career, Mr. Smith research has spanned many critical aspects of the automotive industry.  He actively researched vehicle and component manufacturing; materials forecasting; product development and analysis; supplier–manufacturer relations; technology development; facility location analysis; product launch strategy and human resource and talent issues.   Mr. Smith’s recent research and leadership activities have focused on the challenges and opportunities of implementing innovative technologies and services in the automotive industry.

From 2012 through 2018, Mr. Smith has also served as Co-Director Strategy, CAR Management Briefing Seminars.  In that role, he has guided strategic planning for the CAR Management Briefing Seminars and other CAR conference activities. Mr. Smith was the chair of the Business of Plugging In, a Plug in Electric Vehicle conference in Detroit, Michigan (2009-2011). Mr. Smith was also active as a labor educator for 15 years.

He received a B.S. in Economics and an M.B.A. from Eastern Michigan University.

Yen Chen | Senior Industry Economist, Center for Automotive Research

Yen Chen is a Senior Industry Economist in the Industry, Labor & Economics Group at CAR. His work focuses on economic fundamentals that influence automotive sales, production, and employment; and future trends in U.S. automotive industry. He is responsible for the U.S. automotive industry forecasts on sales, production, and employment. He joined CAR in 2006.

Prior to working at CAR, Yen worked as a legislative assistant for the Legislative Yuan, the legislative body of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Yen has a master’s in Economics and an M.B.A., both from Eastern Michigan University. He has a bachelor’s degree in Cooperative Economics from National Taipei University in Taipei, Taiwan. He is a member of National Association for Business Economics.