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LA Auto Show Adds Third Press Day Focused on Rapidly Expanding Connected Car Industry


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Global Technology Announcements To Be Revealed At LA Auto Show's Connected Car Expo November 19

LOS ANGELES--Sept. 18, 2013: The Los Angeles Auto Show (LA Auto Show) announced today that Audi, Ford, Sprint and others will lead LA Auto Show Press Days with significant auto technology announcements on Nov. 19 during the show's Connected Car Expo (CCE). In addition to the press conferences during CCE, there will be dozens of debuts and exhibits showcasing the latest automotive technologies over the course of three Press Days (Nov. 19, 20 and 21).

On Nov. 19, all press conferences will be held on the floor of CCE. All registered CCE attendees as well as journalists registered for the LA Auto Show Press Days are welcome to attend. Only the CCE exhibit areas (located in South Hall Lobby) will be open on Nov 19. All remaining halls will open on Nov. 20 and 21.

While Ford and Sprint have yet to tease specifics about their announcement, Audi will reveal more details about its first-ever 4G LTE-equipped vehicle, the Audi A3 and S3 sedans. Coming to U.S. showrooms next spring, the A3 and S3 sedans represent some of the most advanced connected car technology available in the entry-level luxury segment. Audi will also preview a range of new features available through its Audi Connect® suite of services in the A3 and S3, including: picture navigation, read-aloud Facebook and Twitter alerts, access to more than 3,000 Internet broadcast stations worldwide, personalized RSS news feeds and a new Audi Connect mobile app that allows advanced functionality between an Audi driver's smartphone and their car's MMI infotainment system.

Other exhibitors presenting their latest advancements in the space include: Airbiquity, Covisint, Hertz Navigation Solutions, Onstar, QNX, Qualcomm, Telenav, Verizon, Livio, Parkopedia, Clip Interactive and others.

"We're continuing to make significant improvements for this year's Show, and are excited to have these innovative industry leaders debut major tech-focused news at what is now our opening press day focusing on technology," said Lisa Kaz, president of LA Auto Show and Connected Car Expo.

Additional CCE sponsors include Splunk, which is hosting the FASTPITCH competition in an effort to find the hottest new auto-tech start-up as well as Pandora Radio, hosting the opening party and live entertainment for Press Days on Nov. 19 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The National Automobile Dealers Association and JD Power & Associates will be cohosting the opening night party for Press Days as part of the Western Automotive Conference (also taking place on Nov. 19). This event is open to all CCE/LA Auto Show-credentialed Press Days attendees as well as guests of the Western Automotive Conference.

Along with the exhibits and press conferences, CCE will offer a full day of panel discussions featuring more than 50 experts including: Phil Abrams, chief infotainment officer at General Motors; Sven Beiker, executive director, Center for Automotive Research at Stanford; Robert Herjavec, star of ABC's Shark Tank; Ron Medford, Google's safety director for the Self-Driving Car Program; Joseph White, global auto editor of the Wall Street Journal; David Strickland, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; John Quain, CBS News; Mitch Bainwol, president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, to name a few.

The entire day will be emceed by Brian Cooley, editor at large at CNET, while car tech expert and writer Doug Newcomb is serving as conference chair.