U.S. Transportation Leader Points to Kentucky’s Key Role in Nation’s Auto Industry
Deputy Secretary Victor Mendez among Speakers at AutoVision 2015
LOUISVILLE, KY (September 15, 2015) – Kentucky’s inaugural AutoVision Conference wrapped up Tuesday with a full day of future-focused presentations from auto industry experts and leaders, including U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Victor Mendez.
Mendez delivered the conference’s keynote address, highlighting for a crowd of more than 260 attendees the significant impact of the auto industry – both in Kentucky and the nation.
“The stats are amazing what the industry does from an economic standpoint. It’s pretty incredible here in Kentucky,” Mendez said. “It’s pretty amazing in terms of the effect that all of you have on the economy.”
A longtime advocate for technology and innovation in transportation, Mendez described how advances in the auto industry are supporting the Transportation Department’s primary goal: safety.
“For the last day-and-a-half, you all have heard about innovation in transportation, ranging from design innovation, performance innovation and industry work force innovation,” Mendez said. “I want to talk about the most critical type of innovation that we can think of, and that is safety. At the U.S. Department of Transportation, safety is our No. 1 priority. It always has been, and it always will be.”
Mendez led a long list of national and international automotive leaders who came to Kentucky to discuss the future of automotive manufacturing.
AutoVision, an event created by the Kentucky Automotive Industry Association, represents the first time national and state industry leaders from major OEMs, suppliers and service providers have gathered in Kentucky to discuss the state of the industry and the prospects for its future.
The presenting sponsor for the event was the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.
Among the list of automotive manufacturers and suppliers represented at the conference were Akebono Brake, Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., Robert Bosch Automotive Steering, and Toyota.
“The conference exceeded all expectations,” said KAIA Executive Director Dave Tatman said. “Our speakers brought fresh perspectives to topics of common interest and challenged traditional thinking about how we forge new roads ahead for our industry. We can’t wait for next year’s event.”
Get more information and register at www.autovisionconference.com.
About the Kentucky Automotive Industry Association
The Kentucky Automotive Industry Association (KAIA) was established to advance and promote Kentucky’s automotive industry by providing leadership and creating collaborative partnerships. As the primary state association designed to unite Kentucky’s automotive manufacturers, suppliers and service providers, KAIA serves as a unifying voice that strives to anticipate and address common challenges and achieve shared goals. By creating a forum for best-practice sharing and leveraging the expertise of world-renowned automotive-related companies, the association seeks to further grow and strengthen the industry across the Commonwealth.
To learn more, visit http://kyautoindustry.com or follow the association on Facebook or Twitter.