Coffee Break: Affordability in Auto -- Smarter Ways to Innovate
2026-03-11 11:00 - 11:15 (America/New_York)
Innovation looks different in today’s affordability‑driven market. Join the experts from Plante Moran on March 11 for a brief discussion on how automotive suppliers are rethinking product and operational innovation to stay competitive amid ongoing cost pressures. We’ll share where innovation is creating value today and what it means for supplier strategy.

What are SAA Coffee Breaks?
We know your time is limited and valuable. SAA’s Coffee Breaks are 15-minute presentations on timely and relevant topics. SAA Coffee Breaks are free and open to the industry.
There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.

13th Annual Automotive Recalls Summit
2026-04-28 12:30 - 15:30 | Hyatt House, 30955 Woodward Avenue, Royal Oak, MI, 48073, United States
Held in partnership with:

The automotive industry is at a turning point.
In 2025, a near-record-breaking 406 unique light vehicle recall campaigns were reported as the trajectory of filed campaigns continues its ten-year ascent. The data suggests that a by-product of continued rapid light vehicle innovation is an increased number of recalls. But it’s not just the numbers that tell the story. The nature of recalls is shifting dramatically: more mid-sized campaigns and increased tail risk, i.e., the time it takes defects to manifest, stood out in 2025. As the automotive landscape rapidly evolves, connectivity and vehicle sophistication are rewriting the rules of defect detection and response.
The question isn’t just how many recalls — it’s what comes next.
The 13th Annual Automotive Recalls Summit is where the industry comes for answers.
This is the must-attend event for anyone navigating the high-stakes world of automotive safety, compliance, and quality. Expect bold conversations, hard data, and actionable insights across the issues defining recalls today:

🔍 Recall trends decoded — The latest on recall size, type, and scope, and what the numbers are really telling us.
📈 What’s fueling the surge — A deep dive into the industry forces driving elevated recall activity.
⚠️ Sensors, ADAS & the road to autonomy — Why vehicle sensors are failing and what that means for the future of automated driving.
🔩 Aftermarket & counterfeits — The growing threat of aftermarket recalls and counterfeit parts you can’t afford to ignore.
⚖️ The decision to recall — Exploring the data, benchmarks, and judgment calls behind one of the most consequential, and costly, decisions in the industry.
💰 The cost of getting it wrong — The latest on warranty and recall costs, and how leading companies are fighting back.

Agenda:
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm — Registration and Networking
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm — Stout Presentation
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm — Networking and Discussion with Stout team
Stout Speakers:

Raymond Roth, Director, Automotive Recall Practice Leader
Robert Levine, Managing Director

Special Guests:

Varun Jain, Counsel, K&L Gates
Mark Chutkow, Member, Dykema
Jay Logel, Senior Counsel, Dykema
Von Lindsey, President, Lindsey Research Services

Sponsored by:

This event is free for SAA members; $49 for non-members

YPN Networking Event: Manufacturing, Mobility & Innovation at Newlab Detroit
2026-04-28 14:30 - 18:00 | Newlab, 2050 15th St., Detroit, MI, 48216, United States
Held in partnership with:

Enjoy a guided tour of Newlab’s state‑of‑the‑art facility, followed by a relaxed, on-site happy hour to connect with peers across the manufacturing and automotive community.
Agenda:

2:30 – 3:00 p.m. Arrival & Networking
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Guided Newlab Detroit Tour
4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Onsite Networking Happy Hour

Thanks to our sponsor:

Event sponsor:

There is no cost to attend for YPN members, but registration is required.

Not a YPN member? Join today for free by clicking here.

SAA Motoring Minds Featuring Tu Le from the Beijing Auto Show
2026-04-29 09:00 - 09:30
Join SAA Motoring Minds, a free series for automotive professionals and enthusiasts. Each session explores the latest industry trends and innovations with expert-led discussions. This is a Zoom event, but a recording will be available.
Motoring Minds is hosted by Adam Bernard, SAA President and Founder of AutoPerspectives (Adam Bernard | LinkedIn). The first episode will feature Tu Le, live from the Beijing Auto Show, who will be talking about the people, products, and brands making the biggest buzz at the show.
Adam’s special guest:
Tu Le
Managing Director
Sino Auto Insights
Tu Le | LinkedIn

Attendance is free, but please let us know you are joining us.

17th Annual Purchasing Summit
2026-05-19 08:00 - 12:15 | Marelli, 26555 Northwestern Highway,, Southfield, MI, 48033, United States
Hosted by:

Held in partnership with:

The SAA, MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers, and Plante Moran are pleased to announce the 17th Annual Purchasing Summit taking place May 19 at Marelli’s Customer Experience Center in Southfield, Mich.
This long-standing industry event brings suppliers together with OEM purchasing leaders for timely insights, candid discussion and meaningful networking. The program will open with key findings from the 2026 Plante Moran North American Automotive OEM Supplier Working Relations Index® Study, offering an inside look at the current state of OEM supplier relationships across the industry.
Following the presentation, purchasing executives from participating OEMs will join a discussion on the study’s results and share perspectives on how suppliers can strengthen collaboration and navigate the evolving purchasing landscape. The program will conclude with a networking session, providing valuable opportunities for face-to-face engagement with OEM purchasing leaders and industry peers.

Schedule:
8:00 a.m. – Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – Opening Remarks
8:40 a.m. – Plante Moran North American Automotive OEM-Supplier Working Relations Index Study Results
9:40 a.m. – Fireside Chat
11:40 a.m. – OEM Panel Session
11:55 a.m. — Networking
12:15 p.m. — Adjourn
Featured Speakers:
Mark Barrott
Partner, Plante Moran
Vice President, Society of Automotive Analysts

Dr. Angela Johnson
Principal Management Consulting, Supplier Relations Analytics, Plante Moran

Mike Lapham
Vice President, Purchasing, Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC

Marvin Washington
Vice President – Global Purchasing & Supplier Quality, Stellantis

Tanya Skilton

Executive Director, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, General Motors

Rowina Fornica
Head of Supply Chain Excellence, Ford Motor Company

Steve Jernigan
Chief Purchasing Officer, Nissan Americas

Ryan Grimm
Group Vice President, Purchasing Supplier Development, Toyota Motors North America

Collin Shaw
President, MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers

Secure your spot early, as space is limited.
Clicking “Register” will take you to the MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers website to complete registration.

YPN Event: Exclusive Tour of HP Pelzer Automotive
2026-05-21 16:00 - 18:30 | HP Pelzer Automotive Systems Inc., 1175 N Crooks Rd., Troy, MI, 48084, United States
Adler Pelzer Group (APG) is a global automotive supplier specializing in acoustic and thermal solutions that enhance vehicle comfort, performance, and efficiency. APG supports major automakers worldwide with products that reduce noise, manage heat, and improve interior quality.
Attendees will gain insight into the company’s engineering capabilities. The facility features an A2LA-certified materials laboratory, a fully equipped acoustics lab with a chassis dynamometer for in-vehicle testing, and a pilot shop producing prototype parts for OEMs like Ford, Stellantis, GM, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, and Honda
Event Schedule:
4 p.m. – FACILITY TOUR (SEE DETAILS)

Interactive Tour to gain a deeper understanding of the company’s engineering capabilities

5:00 – 6:30 p.m. – FOOD & NETWORKING

Food and Networking, including a fireside chat with the CEO

Headquarters Tour Activities
1. Corporate & Engineering Overview

Introduction to APG’s core activities
Overview of design, testing, prototyping, and development services

2. Three Rotating Stations
a. Acoustic Laboratory

Chassis Dynamometer Demo: See NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) testing on a vehicle in action.
Acoustic Box Demo: Experience how acoustic materials function to block or absorb noise in a controlled environment.

b. Pilot Shop

Polyurethane Foam Machine: Observe how material is poured to create test samples, including cup tests.
Mini Carpet Molding: Watch live carpet molding using a scaled production mold.

c. Materials

Demo Vehicle with Acoustic Package: Explore the placement and role of acoustic components inside a vehicle, and their effect on interior comfort.
Recycling & Sustainability: Learn about APG’s efforts to recycle acoustic materials and promote sustainability
throughout the product lifecycle.

Hosted by:

Thanks to our sponsor:

There is no cost to attend but registration is required.

The Decisions That Will Shape the Next Decade of Automotive: A Conversation with Magna CEO Swamy Kotagiri
2026-06-09 08:00 - 10:00 | Magna, 750 Tower Drive, Troy, MI, 78098, United States
Join the Automotive Press Association and the Society of Automotive Analysts for a moderated conversation with Magna CEO Swamy Kotagiri on how automotive leaders are making critical decisions in a more uncertain, capital‑constrained environment.
As the industry balances near‑term performance with the need to invest in what’s next, Swamy will share Magna’s perspective on how shifting demand, evolving supply chains, and regional dynamics are reshaping decision‑making in real time—across customers, programs, and markets.
The discussion will explore how OEMs and suppliers are navigating these trade‑offs: where priorities are changing, how capital is being allocated, and how companies are continuing to invest in next‑generation vehicle architectures, including software‑defined platforms, while maintaining operational discipline today.
The session will take the form of a fireside chat moderated by Nora Eckert of Reuters, followed by audience Q&A.
Agenda:
8:00–9:00 a.m. — Networking breakfast (optional)
9:00–10:00 a.m. — Presentation, fireside chat, Q&A
10:00 a.m. — Event concludes
Free to SAA Members
Non-Members – $99.00 (includes a one-year Bronze membership to the SAA)

Coffee Break: Midyear Review of the Automotive Industry
2026-06-10 11:00 - 11:15
Join the SAA for an insightful 15-minute Coffee Break for a brief midyear check‑in on the automotive industry. Experts from Plante Moran will share a market forecast and explore how electrification continues to influence industry direction as the year unfolds. Grab a cup of coffee and tune in for a timely perspective on where the market stands and what to watch next.
There is no cost to attend this webinar, but registration is required.

Augmented: The Human + Machine Intelligence Advantage
2026-06-18 08:00 - 12:30 | Munro & Associates, 1140 Centre Road, Auburn Hills, MI, 48326, United States
Hosted by:
Why the Winners of the Next Decade Will Be Human + Machine Organizations
The automotive industry is entering its next major transformation – driven by AI, automation, electrification, advanced manufacturing, and machine intelligence. But despite the headlines, the future is not about replacement. It’s about augmentation. The companies that win the next decade will not be the ones that blindly chase disruption. They will be the organizations that learn how to combine human expertise with machine capability to move faster, build smarter, scale efficiently, and make better decisions.
Augmented brings together automotive leaders, manufacturing innovators, technology disruptors, investors, and strategists to explore how AI, robotics, EV technologies, autonomy, and intelligent systems are reshaping the industry in practical, commercially viable ways. Featuring keynote speakers, Munro teardown insights, and expert perspectives from across the automotive and mobility ecosystem, this event will separate hype from reality – and identify where the real opportunities are emerging.
Speakers include executives from:

Munro
ABB
Robostrategy
FANUC
Pratt Miller
Kinetic Vision
Kettering University

Agenda:

8:00 a.m. — Registration/Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m. — Program
11:15 a.m. — Tour of facility

Free for SAA Members
$99 for non-members (includes 1-year SAA membership)

10th Annual Materials Innovations Summit
2026-11-11 08:00 - 11:30 | Munro & Associates, 1140 Centre Road, Auburn Hills, MI, 48326, United States
Mark your calendars.
More information to come.
