SOUTHFIELD, Mich.  – Dave Caracci, chairman of the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS), has announced that R. L. Polk & Co. has renewed its corporate sponsorship of GAAS for the 2010 event. R. L. Polk & Co. has been the corporate sponsor of GAAS since 2003.

GAAS 2010 is scheduled for Tuesday, May 18 and Wednesday, May 19 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare near Chicago.

“We are excited to renew our longtime partnership with R. L. Polk & Co. and thank them for their generous financial assistance,” said Caracci. “We appreciate their leadership in our industry and for supporting our important educational endeavor.”

Mark Seng, vice president, R. L. Polk & Co., said, “We are pleased to continue as the corporate sponsor of the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium. Not only has the Symposium provided our industry with cutting-edge, aftermarket specific education for the past 13 years, they have donated the net proceeds of the event to help fund scholarships for future aftermarket leaders.”

Under the agreement, R. L. Polk & Co. will present its prestigious Polk Inventory Efficiency Awards at GAAS 2010. This will mark the sixth year for the awards, which recognize and reward outstanding aftermarket companies for process improvements relative to inventory efficiency. Awards are presented for excellence in two categories: Manufacturer and Retailer/Distributor.

The annual two-day Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium brings together industry leaders and experts to examine the issues and trends affecting the automotive aftermarket and influencing its future.

For more information on GAAS 2010, visit: www.globalsymposium.org.