AIAG to Support China Automotive Supply Chain with New Shanghai Office

AIAG to Support China Automotive Supply Chain with New Shanghai Office

March 27, 2006

Dr. Yilong Chen Named General Director of Asia-Pacific Affairs and Chief Representative

    DETROIT, March 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The Automotive
Industry Action Group (AIAG), a not-for-profit automotive
trade association, is strengthening its first Asian
initiative to support the supply chain in China with the
opening of a representative office in Shanghai and the
appointment of respected scientist and industry pioneer Dr.
Yilong Chen to lead the initiative.  He is AIAG's general
director of Asia-Pacific affairs and chief representative
in China.

    (Logo: 
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040719/DEM007LOGO )

    AIAG members, including DaimlerChrysler AG, Ford Motor
Co., General Motors Corp. and major automotive suppliers,
are growing their businesses rapidly in China. At the same
time, Chinese automotive OEMs and suppliers are eager to
improve their quality and export capability.  By
establishing an AIAG representative office in China,
Detroit-based AIAG is strongly committed to support its
members' needs in China and to bridge the gap in the
Chinese supply chain via common standards and tools to
improve quality, increase efficiency and competitiveness.
Founded in 1982 by a group of visionary leaders from
DaimlerChrysler, Ford and GM, AIAG has a long history of
being the catalyst for the global automotive industry's
efforts to establish a seamless, efficient and responsible
supply chain.  The appointment of Dr. Chen to lead the
China initiative demonstrates AIAG's level of commitment in
addressing the many challenges and opportunities in China
and in establishing a win-win partnership with the Chinese
automotive industry.

    "To sustain the forecasted growth of the
automotive market in China, it is imperative that we deploy
best practices and standards throughout the Chinese portion
of the supply chain," said J. Scot Sharland, AIAG
executive director.  "AIAG is prepared to work with
Chinese suppliers and accelerate the development of
world-class business processes to meet the emerging needs
of the global automotive industry in areas such as systems
interoperability, quality and warranty. 

    "Dr. Chen's technical expertise, extensive
experience and proven track record of successful relations
with the Chinese automotive industry, government and
academia will allow him to make a positive impact
immediately. He is the ideal candidate to help AIAG elevate
its commitment to the industry in China and the rest of
Asia."       

    During the past ten years, Dr. Chen has been actively
involved in nurturing high-level relationships with the
Chinese government, automotive industry and academia for
General Motors Corp. He is one of the pioneers in
developing GM's business in China. As the chief scientist
and director of technology development and partnership of
GM's China operations, he established and managed
GM/Delphi-Tsinghua Technology Institute in Beijing and
GM-Shanghai Jiaotong Powertrain Technology Institute in
Shanghai. He initiated and managed technology
collaborations with Chinese partners for GM. He also
launched and managed the GM China Science & Technology
award program with the Chinese National Science Foundation.
  In 1997, he received the GM President Council honor, which
recognizes employees who represent the "Best of the
Best" in terms of performance at all levels throughout
GM. As a GM technical fellow, he led research in the areas
of robotics, wireless, RFID and supply chain quality. He
also received the GM McCuen Award, which provides
recognition for extraordinary technical accomplishments and
their economic impact to the company.  Because of his
outstanding technical contributions, Dr. Chen was elected
an IEEE Fellow in 1999.  

    About AIAG

    Founded in 1982, AIAG is a globally recognized
organization where OEMs and suppliers unite to address and
resolve issues affecting the worldwide automotive supply
chain.  AIAG's goals are to reduce cost and complexity
through collaboration; improve product quality, health,
safety and the environment; and optimize speed to market
throughout the supply chain.  Dedicated to the continuous
improvement of business practices, AIAG also provides
educational resources and publications including many
quality-related products such as ISO/TS 16949 publications
as well as manuals from DaimlerChrysler AG, Ford Motor Co.
and General Motors Corp.  Headquartered in the metro
Detroit area, its more than 1,500 member companies include
North American, European and Asia-Pacific OEMs and
suppliers to the automotive industry.  Additional
information is available on the Internet at
http://www.aiag.org .

    For more information, please contact:

     Leslie Santos-Cotham,
     Automotive Industry Action Group
     Tel:  [phone]

SOURCE  Automotive Industry Action Group