The Southern Automotive Conference announces its keynotes and speaker lineup. The internationally recognized event is taking place Oct. 3-5, 2018, at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. In its 11^th year, the conference brings together thought leaders, Original Equipment Manufacturers, suppliers and service providers to discuss the latest innovations driving the industry forward.

Hosted by the Georgia Automotive Manufacturers Association, the Southern Automotive Conference is anticipating 1,800 attendees, 300 exhibitors and several foreign manufacturer pavilions. The three-day event will feature 50 speakers, six breakout sessions, four flash presentations and two panels.

The conference's impressive keynote lineup is comprised of:

• Gary Silberg: national sector lead partner for the automotive industry at KPMG

• Linda Hasenfratz: CEO of Linamar

• Raj Batra: president, Siemens Digital Factory Division

• Dr. Hagen Radowski: president and CEO of MHP Americas – A Porsche Company

• Gov. Nathan Deal: governor of Georgia

• Jonathan Smoke: chief economist at Cox Automotive

"The Southern Automotive Conference has a long history of bringing together some of the most influential names in the industry. To commemorate the event's first appearance in Georgia, we're making it bigger and better than ever before," shares Rick Walker, founder and president of GAMA and host of the Southern Automotive Conference. "The high caliber of speakers, quality of content and interactive demonstrations truly make this event a must-attend for everyone in the industry."

Focusing on the innovations that are driving the automotive industry forward, the Southern Automotive Conference will cover the biggest trends impacting the space. From industry 4.0 to autonomous vehicles, emerging tech and workforce development; the future of automotive will be on display. The action-packed schedule includes:

• Flash Presentations on autonomous vehicle technology, workforce development, OSHA's impact on the industry and the Supreme Court's automotive class action suit

• Panel Presentations on OEM issues and mobility trends led by moderators John Waraniak, vice president of vehicle technology at SEMA and Tim Yerdon, president of Plymouth Technology Advisors

• Breakout Sessions covering cyber security, workforce development, future of the industry and more

• Innovation Test Track with guests from Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute, Technology Acceleration and Innovation Services, Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Plymouth Technology Advisors, Advanced Technology Development Center, Mercedes-Benz USA and 2nd Generation Capital

Registration for the Southern Automotive Conference is open. For a limited time, receive $75 off registration using promo code SACFB2018 at checkout: https://www.southernautocon.com/attendee-registration.