The biennial CAR Conference is currently taking place at the Johannesburg International Motor Show at NASREC. This year's theme for the conference is The SA motor industry in challenging times: How to Survive and Prosper.

A panel of influential speakers have evaluated South Africa's volatile economic environment are directing their focus on how the automotive industry can benefit both locally and globally through sustainable development and growth. John Parker - Ford's Executive Vice President Asia Pacific and Africa - will deliver the keynore address on global lessons for the local industry, and he is to be followed by Dennis Dykes, Chief Economist, Nedbank Group, Roelf Meyer - co-founder and executive board member of FeverTree Consulting, Mpueleng Pooe - Public Affairs Executive Royal Bafokeng Holdings, Paul de Vantier - Managing Director of KA SMART Management Consultants, and a presentation featuring Beth Lowery - GM's Vice President - Environment, Energy, and Safety Policy.

Since 2006, South Africa's socio-political environment as well as its economic landscape has changed dramatically. McCarthy chairman Brand Pretorius once again serves as Conference Chairman and will address how sales have slowed over the past two years due to a number of what he terms as "perfect storms". His presentation is titled: Dealer Efficiency and Profitability.

However, the McCarthy chairman believes that all is not lost and the slowdown in sales will pass when a number of positive factors come into play. He will highlight that, due to our emerging black market and our growth in tourism, transformation can occur. We need to look at massive capital investment - Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative (ASGI), which involves government investments of R485bn by 2014. If we manage to develop South Africa's local infrastructure by adapting to global requirements, Pretorius believes that it could potentially lead to significant growth in output by the motor industry and substantial improvements can be made.

Joining Pretorius as a speaker at the Conference will be Dr Johan van Zyl, the president of Naamsa and Toyota South Africa. They will address the issue of the South African motor industry policy, and provide an update on the newly-announced APDP.

The CAR Conference has established itself as a source of high quality information and insight into trends impacting on the motor industry. It is essential for those involved at management level in any aspect of automotive and component marketing, exporting, manufacturing and retailing to attend and take part. That includes advertising, vehicle finance, fleet managers and buyers, insurance executives, dealer principals, sales and service managers, human resources managers, shop stewards - and other senior staff in the retail side of the motor industry and allied businesses.

Be sure to catch CARtoday.com's news coverage of the CAR Conference 2008 in its Industry section and click here to download speakers' presentations from November 6 onward.