Speakers announced for VRA seminar

The speaker programme for the Vehicle Remarketing Association’s '2020 Vision' seminar has been announced as the event reaches capacity with the final delegate spaces booked.

More than 150 industry professionals are expected to attend The Slate at Warwick University on Wednesday, November 27, to hear a programme designed to help equip them to meet the challenges facing the sector in the coming year.

The day, sponsored by Cazana, includes: Justin Benson, UK head of automotive at KPMG, on the economy in 2020; Rob Severs, VP data and insight at iVendi, on how online motor retail will develop in the year ahead; and Louisa Bell, general manager UK for Avis Budget Group, on from ownership to usership.

Nora Leggett, head of member services at the British Vehicle Leasing and Rental Association (BVRLA), will also speak on the latest thinking on inspection standards; and Paul Marchment, senior business manager at Arval, will cover how hydrogen is developing as a fuel type.

In addition, Paul Jennings, lead for connected and autonomous vehicles at WMG, will talk about future mobility, followed by Max Stolton, industry manager at Google, on consumer buying behaviour; and Matt Freeman, managing consultant at Cap HPI Consulting on EV and hybrid volumes in the next five years.

Finally, there will be two head-to-head debate sessions with David Bailey, Professor of Business Economics at Birmingham Business School and specialist motor industry journalist Neil Winton looking at Brexit.

The second debate will examine the question, Auto Retail in 2020 - Potential Minefield or Unique Opportunity?

Sam Watkins, chair at the VRA, said: “This is the biggest seminar event that we have held to date and the delegate places have been taken in record time. It is a very strong vote of confidence in the credibility and expertise of the VRA by the remarketing sector.

“We believe that the VRA is today more relevant than ever been before, something that we are seeing in growing member numbers.

“The used car and van sectors are facing levels of change and disruption that have been not been seen for many, many years – perhaps ever.

“In the short to medium term, there are the effects of Brexit and possible recession to consider, the rise of EVs and mobility, and greater use of online retailing. Looking further ahead, there are hydrogen cars, autonomous vehicles, new charging technologies and more.

“We have speakers covering all of these subjects and more during 2020 Vision in a format that is designed to be fast and informative, providing as much information as possible within a day to our members and other delegates ranging from fleets to manufacturers and dealers to leasing companies. It should be a fascinating day.”