From in-dash apps and telematics to vehicle-to-vehicle communication and autonomous cars, automakers and their technology partners are reinventing the car in ways that no one could have imagined even a decade ago.

But this rapid, technology-driven change in the auto industry is also proving disruptive. The Connected Car Conference (C3) at CE Week provides an ideal forum for industry leaders to meet, discuss and move towards resolving these issues. Here are some topics that will be addressed by distinguished speakers and panelists:

Keeping Pace with Consumer Electronics: Because of long product lead times, automakers are at a disadvantage keeping pace with the rapid changes in consumer electronics. But through partnerships with technology companies, the advent of software updates and industry-wide standards such as MirrorLink, the auto industry is starting to react much faster. But it still has a ways to go. This panel of experts will discuss the “friction points” involved with adopting consumer electronics to car infotainment and how we they can be overcome.

The Future of Radio in the Car: For years, AM /FM was the only form of radio in the car. Then came Sirius XM, and now we’re seeing a flood of options in the form of Internet radio and streaming media services. Drivers have more alternatives than ever before. When sorting through the various options to decide what form of “radio” is best for the dashboard – and which technologies will stand the test of time – the choices can be baffling for both automakers and consumers alike. This panel brings together the most important players in the space to discuss what’s down the road for in-car radio.

Dealing with Driver Distraction: As car infotainment options multiply, so does the potential for drivers to become distracted. At the same time, automakers and their suppliers place a heavy emphasis – and spend considerable R&D dollars – to ensure that in-dash electronics are as safe to use as possible. With policymakers scrutinizing car infotainment systems and safety advocates often pointing a finger at automakers, it’s difficult to cut through the clutter and separate scientific fact from media-frenzy fiction. This panel will explore what automakers and suppliers are doing to design systems that minimize distraction – and what still needs to be done to ensure safety.

How “Big Data” is the New In-Vehicle Content Driver: Because of the rapid growth of connectivity, cars are becoming the biggest, most powerful portable device people own, and cars are also increasingly becoming one of the greatest consumers as well as producers of data. From drivers’ need for navigation and traffic info to the growth of connected infotainment in the car, from an emphasis on real-time tracking of fuel efficiency to vehicle-to-vehicle communication, data flowing to and from the car is changing how we drive – and also poised to make it a more productive and pleasant experience. This panel of experts will share their insights on how “big data” is become the driving force behind in-vehicle content.

At this half-day program will take place during the one of the consumer electronics industry’s biggest events, which draws over 6,000 attendees to the media capital of the world. Co-produced by car technology expert and distinguished journalist Doug Newcomb (Wired, MSN Autos, Edmunds.com), C3 will bring the best and brightest in the automotive and consumer electronics worlds to CE Week to drive the conversation on the connected car.

Who’s attending:

Car manufacturers
OEM suppliers
Trade and business media
Market analysts