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ITS America is excited to announce General Motors CEO Mary Barra as the 21st ITS World Congress keynote speaker for the Opening Ceremony on Sunday 7 September. Taking place at the Cobo Center, Barra will address the changing transportation environment around the world as well as the rapidly evolving technology of connected, autonomous, and electric vehicles.

“Connectivity may drive more positive change for customers than any other technological innovation our industry has produced in decades,” says Barra. “Anywhere in the world that we connect cars to cars, and cars to their surroundings, we will save lives, save time and protect the environment. But only if automakers, suppliers and regulators move forward together to make it happen. That’s what makes this year’s ITS World Congress such a landmark event.”

Scott Belcher, president and CEO of ITS America stated, “We are elated to have Mary Barra launch this year’s ITS World Congress and if you want to know what direction the future of transportation is headed, then you cannot afford to miss this event.” Belcher added: “Southeast Michigan is at the heart of a growing intelligent transportation industry that will forever change how we move people and goods. There is no better place to showcase the next generation of high-tech innovation in transportation than in a resurgent Detroit.”

Learn more here and read about Barra’s participation and other World Congress highlights in the Detroit News.

Barra will be joined by a roster of top tier industry and political leaders including Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford, who will keynote the Monday, September 8 Plenary Session and Verizon Communications Chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam, who will address attendees on his company’s vision for the role technology plays in the future of transportation at the Tuesday, September 9 Plenary.

HNTB Infrastructure CEO Robert Slimp will lead the discussion during a High Level Policy Roundtable on Sunday, September 7, and Delphi President and CEO Rodney O’Neal will lead a Chief Technology Officer Plenary on Monday, September 8. ITS America’s incoming Board Chairman and Michigan Department of Transportation Director Kirk Steudle will participate in a number of events throughout the week. For a full list of all executive level speakers please download our preliminary program.

You do not want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear from and network with these and other innovators and decision makers who are transforming the transportation ecosystem.