SAE International's Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress is set for Sept. 13-14 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.


The theme for this year's event centers on "Global Technologies for CO2 Reduction and Fuel Economy Improvement on Commercial Trucks and Buses."

"The SAE Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress is one of the few arenas where we can really exchange opinions and have open discussion without falling into those traps where we are not allowed to talk about competitive issues," said Wilfried Achenbach, senior vice president of engineering and technology for Daimler Trucks North America, executive co-chair for the event.

Co-chair Landon K. Grogan, director of engineering services and vehicle integration for DTNA, added, "For nine years, we as an industry have been facing emissions regulations and technology implementation that have been driving up our costs as well as the price to our customers for our products. And from the customer's perspective, they could not necessarily see any improvement on their business side. Now we're moving into an era of greenhouse gas regulations that will hopefully have the effect of increasing fuel economy so that there is a business advantage for our customers. That is quite a change for our industry and that will be reflected in this event."

Martin Daum, president and CEO of DTNA, will offer a keynote address during the Industry Keynote and Awards Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14. His presentation will revolve around the event theme on reduction of greenhouse gases and improved fuel efficiency.

"With President Obama's recent announcement regarding new fuel efficiency standards that will apply to heavy duty truck model years 2014 to 2018, the timing of Daimler's theme for COMVEC 2011 could not have been scripted more appropriately," said Greg Muha, manager of SAE's Commercial Vehicle Sector. "The White House is saying that these new standards will save businesses billions of dollars in fuel cost, help reduce oil consumption and cut air pollution. SAE International members and the companies they work for are right in the thick of things on this issue and in the end; they will play a tremendous role in making this a reality."

Other highlights of the SAE 2011 Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress include four Executive Panel discussions on:

* Engine and engine component manufacturers' challenges to meet CO2 reduction and fuel economy improvement goals.

* Challenges in the commercial vehicle arena relative to the need for improved fuel economy.

* Commercial vehicle integration for military bases and homeland defense applications.

* Electronics increasing role in improving fuel economy, fuel efficiency and reducing greenhouse gasses.

For more information: www.sae.org/comvec.