Nine new speakers have been added to the agenda of the upcoming Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR 2003), the nation’s premier automotive remarketing conference, which will be held on Feb. 23-25, 2003 at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas. The nine new participants increase the conference’s speaker lineup to 46 industry experts, who will discuss all facets of the used-vehicle market in 14 separate sessions.

“This is the most impressive lineup of remarketing experts ever assembled for a single conference,” said Ed Bobit, CEO of Bobit Publishing.

In an acknowledgement of CAR’s significance to the remarketing industry, General Motors’ John Smith, the soon-to-be-appointed group vice president for vehicle sales, service, and marketing, has agreed to present a major keynote address at the conference. All General Motors remarketing functions will ultimately report to Smith, effective Jan. 1, 2003. His keynote address will be on the future of certified used-vehicle sales. This will be the first time that Smith has addressed the remarketing industry in his new position. Smith is one of three keynote speakers who will make presentations at CAR 2003.

The other two keynote speakers are Charley Smith, incoming president pro tem of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), who will speak on “What Dealers Want from Auctions”; and Mike Linn, executive vice president of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA), who will speak on “Key Issues Facing Independent Dealers.”

Also new to the program is Paul Seger, vice president of asset remarketing for GE Fleet Services, who has joined the panel discussion of fleet management company remarketers. “We have assembled the undisputed ‘dream team’ of fleet management company remarketers with representatives from the nation’s top six fleet management companies,” said Bobit. Cumulatively, these six remarketers sell almost half-a-million vehicles per year. The panel will include Bill Cieslak of PHH, Bob Graham of ARI, Peter Klopchic of CitiCapital Fleet, Darrin Aiken of Wheels, Paul Seger of GE Fleet Services, and John Rancourt of LeasePlan USA.

Two key auction executives have also joined the CAR 2003 lineup. Ray Nichols, CEO of BSCAmerica, and Don Reig, managing director of ServNet, announced that they will join the panel discussion on “Future Trends in the Auction Industry.” This discussion will also feature Jim Hallett, chairman and CEO of ALLETE Automotive Services; Bob Rauschenberg, vice president of ABC; Jimmy Compton, president of the National Auto Auction Association; and other auction chain management. Also new to the program is Tony Moorby, a partner in Flying Lion and former president of the ADT Automotive auction chain, who will be the moderator of this panel discussion.

Dennis Eisenbrey, national remarketing manager for Household Automotive Finance, is the latest participant to join the panel discussion on “How Changes at Banks and Financial Institutions Will Affect Remarketing Strategies.” Other panelists include Doug Richards of Triad Financial Corp., Steve Houston of WFS Financial, and Steve Piccinati of Bank of America. Also new to the CAR 2003 program is Richard Curtis, partner, TPC Management, who will be the moderator of this panel discussion.

Jim Yates, remarketing director of Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp., is the latest panelist to join the session dealing with the “Latest Remarketing Trends Among Import Automotive Remarketers.” Other panelists include Dave Langley of American Honda Financial Services, Kent Pace of Toyota Financial Services, and Tom Kniivila of VW Credit/Audi Financial Services. The newly announced moderator will be Don Elliott, vice president of ADESA. Prior to joining ADESA, Elliott was fleet manager for Mazda where he also supervised the auto manufacturer’s vehicle remarketing program.

For the 2003 show, Bobit Publishing has created an alliance with Used Car News to create a seminar track specifically designed to meet the remarketing needs of franchised and independent dealers. This will include sessions on how to strengthen a dealership’s used-vehicle department and a discussion of alternate forms of financing options available to franchised and independent dealers. Tim Deese, president of Progressive Basics, a nationally-recognized trainer, will be the moderator of the session on “How to Strengthen a Used-Car Department.”

In addition, the International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA) will hold its all-member meeting at CAR 2003 on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2003, said IARA President Dave Langley. All attendees at the CAR conference are invited to attend the IARA meeting at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel.

“I’ve attended CAR conferences since 1994 and find it to be the most professionally valuable remarketing event I attend each year,” said Peter Klopchic, vice president of vehicle remarketing for CitiCapital Fleet. “CAR consistently attracts thought-provoking speakers who share the newest and most innovative ideas in the remarketing industry.”

Another value-added feature of attending CAR 2003 is the chance to win a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, which will be given away to an attendee who provides the closest estimate of the total sale price for vehicles to be auctioned at several East Coast auctions on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003. The prize is sponsored by ADESA.

For registration information, please call (800) 576-8788. An early bird discount of $595.00 is available to attendees who register by Dec. 20, 2002. After this date, registration is $695.00.

Additional information on the other speakers at the upcoming CAR 2003 conference can be found at www.bobitexpos.com.