The latest news releases from the SAA:

 

Marelli Wins SAA’s 2025 Innovations in Lightweighting Award

November 13, 2025 -- The Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA) awarded Marelli North America with its Innovations in Lightweighting Award today at the 9th Annual Materials Innovations Summit, held at Munro and Associates in Auburn Hills, MI, and held in conjunction with Ducker Carlisle. Marelli won the award for its LeanExhaust platform innovation.

Marelli, a global supplier of mobility technology to the automotive sector, developed its lightweight exhaust system in direct response to OEM demand for weight and volume reduction in hybrid in vehicles with Internal Combustion Engines, including hybrids. The system achieves an overall weight reduction of 16 kg compared to conventional exhaust systems while exceeding or matching emissions-control and noise-reduction performance. The system includes two modular components: a dual-layer converter and a micro-hole design muffler. Each of these components contributes to the system’s reduced weight and volume. The LeanExhaust System enables a 52% decrease in carbon emissions through design and process improvements compared to exhaust systems currently in production – translating to an 85 kg reduction in CO2 for a typical vehicle for each exhaust system.

A traditional catalytic converter, an integral part of a vehicle’s exhaust system, requires two elements - a three-way catalyst and a gasoline particulate filter. According to Rob Carman, Head of Product Development for Marelli North America, Marelli’s innovative converter design integrates and consolidates these two elements into a single component, resulting in a more compact and reduced-volume solution.

The runner-up in the competition was Hutchinson for its innovative Flexible Cooler, which enhances the thermal regulation of EV Battery Cells. This innovation is a flexible cooler that adapts to the varying shapes and sizes of battery cells and packs. It ensures uniform cooling and prevents thermal hotspots that can degrade battery performance or compromise safety, while also offering weight savings and improved thermal regulation.

Honorable Mention entries were also recognized. These entries included:

  • Tuneko Ltd. – The One from Perano/Next Generation Wheels
  • CooperStandard – Plastic Coolant Hub
  • Marelli – Hybrid Suspension System with Electromechanical Actuators

The Innovations in Lightweighting Award judges included:

  • Dave Andrea, Partner, Plante Moran (retired)
  • Abhay (Abe) Vadhavkar, Engineering Director (retired)
  • Bertrand Rakoto, Senior Engagement Manager, Global Automotive Practice Leader at Ducker Carlisle

“The Innovations in Lightweighting Award provides us with the opportunity to recognize exceptional innovations that are developed anywhere in the world, and to encourage new ideas and perspectives that reduce the weight of the vehicle without sacrificing performance, driveability, safety, and the overall driver experience,” said Abey Abraham, SAA Board Member and Managing Principal of Automotive and Materials at Ducker Carlisle.  “As an industry, we have been forced to think out of the box, be collaborative, and put aside the notion of ‘that is always how we have done it.’ Mobility is evolving rapidly, and vehicle lightweighting is a crucial part of this evolution. This year’s entries showed that we are ready to evolve with it.”

Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA) Announces New President and Addition to its Board of Directors

 

February 17, 2025 -- The Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA) has announced its Board of Directors for 2025. Adam Bernard, Founder and Principal of AutoPerspectives (photo to the right), will serve as SAA president, while Jeff Schuster, President of Forecasting, GlobalData, moves into the vice president role.

Steve Hallman, Global Marketing Director of Body and Chassis, Magna International, who served as SAA’s president in 2024, becomes the new SAA Chairman. Matt Grecki, Manager, Competitive Intelligence, General Motors, joins the Board as a director.

The complete 2025 SAA Board of Directors includes:

Officers:

  • President – Adam Bernard, Founder and Principal of AutoPerspectives
  • Vice President – Jeff Schuster, President of Forecasting, GlobalData
  • Treasurer – Jeff Bagalis, Managing Director, Accurity Group LLC

Directors:

  • Abey Abraham, Managing Principal, Ducker Carlisle
  • Andy Almy, Director, Global Market Research, BorgWarner
  • Mark Barrott, Partner, Plante Moran
  • Anne Cascadden, Trade Commissioner, Canadian Consulate General
  • Matt Grecki, Manager, Competitive Intelligence, General Motors
  • Ken Horbatiuk, Manager of Competitive Intelligence, Stellantis
  • Fred Hubacker, President, H Advisors
  • Manoj Jasrotia, Vice President-North America, Caresoft Global
  • Jeremy Lamb, Managing Director, Donnelly Penman and Partners
  • Cristi Landy, Consultant for Advanced Technology
  • Colin Langan, Automotive and Mobility Analyst, Wells Fargo
  • Raj Paul, Regional Industry Business Leader, Automotive Americas, Microsoft
  • David Petrovski, Director of Sales, S&P Global Mobility
  • Anthony Pratt, Global Dealer Engagement Strategy and Benchmarking Lead, Ford Motor Co.
  • Ethan Snyder, Director, Corporate Strategy, Genesis Motor America
  • Ann Marie Uetz, Partner and Vice-Chair, National Litigation Department, Foley & Lardner
  • Mike VanNieuwkuyk, Executive Vice President, Global Head of Vehicle Quality & Automotive Client Officer, IPSOS.

About SAA

The SAA’s mission is to provide members timely access to automotive insights from a wide range of perspectives. The SAA aims to provide automotive professionals exclusive access to industry leaders, early insights and outstanding networking opportunities. SAA members include every automotive industry professional interested in timely and useful auto industry data, discussion and dissemination of ideas, concepts and solutions. For more information on the SAA, go to www.SAAauto.com.