CHICAGO – Mike Martini, president of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations’ Consumer OE Division, asks the question: "Are we entering a new golden era of the automobile?" Martini will share his thoughts in an open discussion on current trends in the automotive original equipment (OE) world with journalist John McElroy, president of Blue Sky Productions Inc., at the 2013 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS). GAAS 2013, "Driving Change," will be held May 21-22 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare near Chicago. 
"We are going to see more changes in the next decade of the automotive industry than we’ve seen in the past 50 years," says Martini. "The change is breathtaking. It’s not only a product change, which is the biggest part, it’s also a regulatory, global and potentially a business model change."
Martini says he and McElroy will help the aftermarket understand the specific challenges in each area and the potential positive and negative impacts for those that supply replacement parts. The discussion will include future OE forecast volumes and technology deployments.
Questions will be encouraged and welcomed during the discussion between Martini and McElroy. Sponsored by Automotive Week/The Greensheet, GAAS uses a unique, interactive feedback system so audience members can electronically submit questions to speakers and panelists.
A 36-year veteran of Bridgestone, Martini leads the OE sales and marketing activity for consumer OE tires in the U.S. and Canada. McElroy is the host of “Autoline Daily,” the first industry webcast of industry news and analysis. He also is the host of the television program “Autoline This Week,” an Emmy award-winning, weekly half-hour discussion program featuring top automotive executives and journalists.
To register for GAAS 2013, visit www.globalsymposium.org.
