ANN ARBOR, Mich.—The Center for Automotive Research is restructuring its annual management conference to be a virtual event because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CAR Management Briefing Seminars still are scheduled for Aug. 4-6. Registration begins April 27.
Carla Bailo, CAR CEO and president, said the independent, non-profit research group has been monitoring COVID-19 outbreaks and decisions made about other national and international events.
"We have decided to make CAR MBS 2020 a virtual event for the health and safety of everyone involved," Bailo said in an email to prospective participants. "It was a difficult decision to make, but we are looking forward to hosting the virtual conference on Aug. 4 and 5. Your participation in the conference sessions and virtual networking will only make the event better."
The forum, which typically is held at a resort in Traverse City, Mich., includes automotive industry visionaries, thought-provoking talks and lively panels about the future of the industry.
This year's keynote speakers are Andy Palmer, president and group chief executive officer of Aston Martin, and Larry Dominique, president and CEO of PSA North America Inc.
The CAR staff is restructuring the event agenda to also address the impact of the novel coronavirus on the automotive industry and business strategies, as well as reworking the exhibit and sponsorship packages, and developing the event platform.