AAPEX Town Hall to Focus on Solutions, Opportunities

The Town Hall at AAPEX in Las Vegas will focus on opportunities that lay ahead, not on the current economic pain, says the organizer.
A sneak peek at this year’s AAIA Town Hall program at AAPEX reveals what should be some surprising insight and dialogue from panelists, according to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). Limited seats are still available for the Wednesday, Nov. 5 event.
Among the many compelling topics to be addressed will be:
Sales spikes in some aftermarket products you might not have predicted.
Why history might not repeat itself this time around with consumers and gas prices.
How will the aftermarket benefit when thousands of new car dealerships close their doors?
Rising fuel costs are accelerating the vehicle electronics revolution. Is the aftermarket ready to respond?
What does it mean to the aftermarket when consumers are driving less but keeping vehicles longer and taking better care of them?
Is the aftermarket prepared to provide diagnostics and service for increasing number of high efficiency vehicles (HEVs)?
Greater value than ever before for consumer education about vehicle maintenance.
“The program is not about reminding everyone about the painful economy and how rising energy prices is a major culprit, but rather a reality check based on facts and analysis and some very real aftermarket opportunities that lay ahead,” said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO.
The AAIA Town Hall, sponsored by NASCAR Performance, will be held at 7 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5, in the Palazzo Ballroom at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev.
The VIP panel representing the manufacturing and repair channels and noted oil and industry analysts will include:
Tom Kloza, Chief Oil Analyst, Oil Price Information Service
Frank Ordonez, President, Delphi Product & Service Solutions
David Portalatin, Director of Industry Analysis, The NPD Group, Inc.
Tony Zanders, President, Heritage Auto Repair and Chair, Car Care Professionals Network (CCPN)

Tickets for the 2008 AAIA Town Hall are US$90 for individuals and a table of 10 is US$750. For ticket information, visit www.aftermarket.org and click on the “Town Hall” button.