Capturing Today's Car Consumer Conference

The present day car market is one in which product specification, performance and design has become increasingly similar. Marketers face significant hurdles in making their individual car's marketing stand out. In response to this, Marketing Week's forthcoming Marketing Cars 2001 conference on 11th and 12th December in London presents new ways of meeting the challenge.

The programme is built round the belief that car marketers need to protect their products against the expected retail slowdown. At the same time, the increased environmental and economic costs of motoring, combined with growing disaffection with commuting, are factors forcing manufacturers to innovate and diversify as never before.

The discussion also promises to tackle the impact of threatened UK and European regulatory changes, set to reshape the traditional dealer-manufacturer relationship. It will also attempt to explore the shift towards sales through grocery multiples and Internet retailers throughout the EU.

In detailed terms, the two day programme will include the following topics:

• The Car Industry in 2001 - Continuity and Change.
  
• Increasing Effective Brand Management at Retail.
  
• The Global Branding Phenomenon and the Car Market.
  
• The Internet and the Media Marketplace for Automotive.
  
• The Role of Financial Services in the Sales and Marketing of Cars.
  
• An Alternative Strategy for the Last New Car Brand.
  
• The Future of Commuting? - the UK and the Two-Wheeled Vehicle.
  
• The Role of E-CRM in the Ownership Lifecycle.
  
• What Next for the High Street Dealer?
  
• New Retailer Possibilities in Selling Cars.
  
• Luxury Car Marketing and Pricing Decisions In the Car Industry.
  
• Car Telematics and the Future of Wireless Technology.
  
• Tapping into The Female and Family Market.
  
• The Impending Role of the Manufacturer Online - Turning Browsers into Buyers.
  
• Driving Innovation from the Consumer.

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.