The programme is built round the belief that car marketers need to protect their products against the expected retail slowdown. At the same time, the increased environmental and economic costs of motoring, combined with growing disaffection with commuting, are factors forcing manufacturers to innovate and diversify as never before.

The discussion also promises to tackle the impact of threatened UK and European regulatory changes, set to reshape the traditional dealer-manufacturer relationship. It will also attempt to explore the shift towards sales through grocery multiples and Internet retailers throughout the EU.

In detailed terms, the two day programme will include the following topics:

• The Car Industry in 2001 - Continuity and Change.
  
• Increasing Effective Brand Management at Retail.
  
• The Global Branding Phenomenon and the Car Market.
  
• The Internet and the Media Marketplace for Automotive.
  
• The Role of Financial Services in the Sales and Marketing of Cars.
  
• An Alternative Strategy for the Last New Car Brand.
  
• The Future of Commuting? - the UK and the Two-Wheeled Vehicle.
  
• The Role of E-CRM in the Ownership Lifecycle.
  
• What Next for the High Street Dealer?
  
• New Retailer Possibilities in Selling Cars.
  
• Luxury Car Marketing and Pricing Decisions In the Car Industry.
  
• Car Telematics and the Future of Wireless Technology.
  
• Tapping into The Female and Family Market.
  
• The Impending Role of the Manufacturer Online - Turning Browsers into Buyers.
  
• Driving Innovation from the Consumer.