NACE/CARS returning to Detroit in 2015

COLLEYVILLE, Texas (Sept. 8, 2014) — The Automotive Service Association (ASA), organizer of the annual NACE/CARS Conference & Expo, will hold the event in Detroit again in 2015.

The ASA said its board of directors and management considered feedback from attendees, exhibitors and other members of the industry in making the decision.

“The response for Detroit was overwhelmingly positive,” said Dan Risley, ASA executive director. “Many said this was the best event in recent memory. Attendees were pleased with the education and training, and numerous exhibitors made significant sales on the show floor.”

The 2015 show will take place July 23-25 at Detroit's COBO Center.

Industry organizations such as I-CAR, Collision Industry Conference (CIC), Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF), Motor Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA) and the National Auto Body Council (NABC) have already committed to Detroit next year, ASA said.

I-CAR will again host the center stage in the exhibit hall to provide attendees with education on advancing vehicle technologies and related repair and industry trends, ASA said.

In addition, it will maintain a booth for membership, provide live technical demonstrations and offer classroom training sessions.

I-CAR CEO and President John VanAlstyne said attendance was up significantly on the NACE floor at this year's event and that the I-CAR Conference “was a great success.”

“We are committed to NACE and will continue with a similar footprint in 2015,” he said. “We also plan to continue holding the I-CAR Conference in conjunction with Industry Week moving forward—shifting to a biennial cadence—so make plans to attend our next conference in 2016.”

In addition, CIC will host the summer quarterly meeting during Industry Week; CREF will hold its annual golf fundraising event; CCIF will return with its education program, sessions and keynote speaker; MERA will host a series of sessions; and NABC will produce the Recycled Rides program, to take place on the exhibit floor.

According to the ASA, other organizations are evaluating co-located meetings during Industry Week, which will take place July 20-25.