Chapter Wrap-up: 2012 Manufacturer Product Preview And Philadelphia Auto Show

The Philadelphia Chapter welcomed representatives from several automakers for their meeting on February 2, hosted by Aramark at their headquarters off of Market Street. The PowerPoint presentations were a primer for what Chapter members would find afterward at the Philadelphia Auto Show held across the street at the Philadelphia Convention facility. The weather was oddly perfect for just such an outing, as the skies were gray and dreary -- the exact opposite of the show floor loaded of shining, brand-new vehicles.

The event, co-sponsored by Aramark, ARI, Wheels, Ford Fleet, General Motors, and the NAFA Philadelphia Chapter, began with a brunch buffet of various danish, frittata, yogurt with fruit toppings, roast beef, grilled salmon, and potato salad. The time allotted between 9 and 10 a.m. was filled with much conversation, networking, and bottomless cups of coffee. The well-attended event saw members in an upbeat and positive mood, excited to hear what the manufacturers had planned for model year 2013 and beyond.

Chapter Chair Kevin Fisher from Aramark convened the meeting with a brief rundown of movement of the Chapter officers' positions for 2012, and after a quick vote, the matter was settled.

The presentations began in an unexpected fashion, as the order of appearance was arranged alphabetically. Ross Friedmann, Audi of America, kicked things off with a rundown of the automaker's carry-overs from 2012, as well as an enthusiastic endorsement of technologies Audi would be including for vehicles to come.

The key concern across the entire spectrum of presenters was safety. This was reflected in services and innovations that monitored car distances both forward and from the rear, specialized lighting schemes that were tailored to unique road conditions, on-board deterrence features that would alert drivers lapsing into dangerous drowsy-driving states, and more. Other areas of determined focus were connectivity to digital services and a commitment to meeting the U.S. CAFE standards by decreasing weight while increasing fuel economy.

Audi was followed by Mike Zielinski and Dave Crockett from Chrysler; Gene Morabito from Ford Fleet; Tim Thompson represented GM; Richard Pipenhagen offered Hyundai Motor America's future plans; Mazda put forth an ambition agenda for their 2013 lines; Rich Maksym covered the long tradition of Mercedes Benz's automotive history; Subaru's Tina Kourakos and Ron Lasman highlighted vehicles that stayed true to sustainability; and Volkswagen's Lorraine Heinicke gave members a peek at the next generation of the company's standard-bearer, the Beetle.

While the presentations were uniformly geared toward fleet, each presenter could not resist slipping in the occasional vehicle less suited for such purposes but more appropriate for daydreaming. Among these vehicles were the Mustang Shelby GT 500; the Veloster; the resurrected Dart; and the SL-Class luxury sportscar. Several of these would be presented at the Car Show, and after one last tour around the buffet, some convivial conversation, and sharing of business cards, it was on to the convention center.

Upon arriving, even the least-involved attendees couldn't help but become car buffs, at least for a moment. In among the gleaming, polished, and buffed new examples, several classic vehicles were on display. The range from modest, unassuming workhorse vehicles, to muscle cars, to European fantasy cars assured one and all that, no matter how gloomy the weather outside was, inside all roads were sunny, summer-like, and cruise worthy.

Along with sponsors Aramark; ARI; Wheels, Inc.; Ford Fleet; GM; and the NAFA Philadelphia Chapter, supporters for this event included Audi; Chrysler; BMW; Hyundai; Bayshore Ford; Mazda; Mercedes; Subaru; and Volkswagen.

NAFA Fleet Management Association
125 Village Blvd., Suite 200
Princeton, NJ 08540

Telephone: 609.720.0882 Fax: 609.452.8004