Inside China Conference

Posted 04/14/2009
UMTRI's Automotive Analysis Division presented "Inside China: Understanding China’s Current and Future Automotive Industry" as part of their "Focus on the Future" series of Automotive Research Conferences. The conference was held Thursday, April 16, 2009, in U-M's Michigan League Ballroom.

Following up on last year’s successful China Automotive Conference, this year’s conference will update attendees on the changes taking place in the Chinese auto industry. The global recession has lessened the growth of China’s auto industry, and it may play an important role in the structure of the industry itself. The government has made a major change in its automotive policy that will affect both domestic and multinational manufacturers. Speakers will provide insights into the current and future direction of the industry based on their academic and government research, consulting experience, and work within the industry.

The featured speaker will be Dr. Weijian Han, manager of research for Ford Asia Pacific. Dr. Han specializes in life-cycle analyses of sustainable mobility dilemmas. His strength lies in his ability to consider a wide range of variables, including government regulations, social policy, technology, and human behavior. He networks diverse stakeholders in a problem area in order to develop solutions that will benefit and be endorsed by all.

Since joining Ford Motor Company in 1995, he has organized and led numerous research and technology programs in China, Thailand, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam. He has spearheaded Ford’s public citizenship effort in Asia, through coordinating the Clean Air Initiative (CAI), sponsored by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, as well as through numerous activities to influence policy making and public awareness in the areas of environment, energy, mobility, and road safety. He has played a key role in developing a research network among universities, institutes, and government agencies in China.

For more information or to register for the conference, visit AAD's website.