Previewing the 2015 S.C. Automotive Summit

The annual event, which is organized by the South Carolina Automotive Council (SCAC), a division of the South Carolina Manufacturing Association (SCMA), serves as the region’s premier automotive industry showcase for news and thought leadership from every key automotive sector, including manufacturing, engineering, education, government and more. This year’s event will focus heavily on workforce development, innovation and supply chain management, offering attendees unique insights into opportunities to grow their business.

Among the presentations scheduled for the summit include a special honorary ceremony with representatives from Clemson University bestowing an honorary Doctorate degree to Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Motors, India’s largest automotive manufacturer. Tata will also participate in an exclusive on-stage interview with Automotive News Editor-in-Chief, Keith Crain. 

The event will feature several additional presentations by notable industry and business leaders including Dr. Susan Helper, U.S. Department of Commerce Chief Economist; Mike Mansuetti, President of Robert Bosch, LLC; and Bobby Hitt, S.C. Department of Commerce Secretary.

Attendees to the summit will also benefit from panel discussions on topics surrounding workforce development, game-changing partnerships and product design and more.

In addition to those events planned at the Automotive Summit, the SCAC has help to organize S.C. Auto Week, an extension of the summit designed to provide a mix of programs and events to create excitement for automotive industry among young students. As part of S.C. Auto Week, hundreds of area middle school girls, their parents and teachers will hear from many of the southeast’s leading industry professionals to learn how women are increasingly involved in the automotive industry. There will also be a three-day competition featuring robotics projects developed and operated by high school teams from across the globe.

As the state’s automotive leader, the Upstate region serves as the perfect home for the S.C. Automotive Summit. The Upstate is home to more than 150 automotive-related companies, all of which have contributed to more than $4.7 billion in automotive-related projects since 2009.

“The impressive agenda scheduled for the S.C. Automotive Industry further demonstrates this region’s position as a leading force in the global automotive industry,” said Aimee Redick, Upstate SC Alliance Business Recruiter. “This year’s event features many of the pre-eminent leaders in the automotive industry and we look forward to connecting with attendees here in the Upstate at what will be one of this year’s premier industry events.”

For more information on the S.C. Automotive Summit, visit http://www.scautomotivecouncil.com/2015-auto-summit/.For more information on the automotive industry in Upstate South Carolina, visit https://www.upstatescalliance.com/target-audiences/welcome-automotive-companies.