For a long time in China, auto sales have been done in one specific distinct traditional format: Consumers considering buying a car, choosing a selection of dealers in close area, and visiting them – physically -, viewing, trying and comparing the car – making the purchase, or not. Even today, when online shopping has become a quintessential part of our lives – especially in China – a car purchase – no doubt, a major capital expenditure for the most of us – is still largely done in this format. However, according to a recent study conducted by Accenture, up to 90% of future auto buyers in China may actually consider purchasing their first or next car solely through online channels. Furthermore, internet and computing technology has advanced so far, that viewing, comparing, configuring and buying/paying cars online has become a reality by so far that it may make it eventually unnecessary to see the real thing, prior to the purchase decision. Most – if not all – automotive OEM have invested or are heavily investing in such technologies that leverage Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and other digital means of offering and selling their cars online. Meanwhile, internet market players who were previously not associated with the automotive industry at all, such as Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent, and others, have revved up their game to offer their clientele a one-stop shopping experience concerning everything that one will ever need about cars.
 
In this event – ironically situated at a “brick-and-mortar” auto store (although, not strictly speaking the “traditional type”)  – leading experts in the automotive and internet-of-things industries will present and discuss on the role that E-Commerce in the Automotive Industry will take in the future in China.
 

Featured Speakers:

• Mr. Frederik Gollob, Director Dealer Network Development Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service Co. Ltd.
• Mr. Peter Albrecht, Manager of UNITY Consulting & Innovation China
• Mr. Gao Feng, General Manager, China & Hong Kong, RedBook Automotive Data Services (Beijing) Limited
• Moderator:Mr. Michael Adick, Managing Director, Auto Industry, Accenture Greater China

When: Tuesday, November 21, 2017, 10:00 am
     10:00 – 10:30 am: Registration and Networking Coffee
       
10:30 am: Presentation: E-Commerce, the better 4S Dealership?
By Mr. Frederik Gollob, Director Dealer Network Development Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service Co. Ltd.

Frederik looks back on a 16 year lasting career and journey with Daimler AG in various functions within the Passenger Car Sales & Marketing division for Mercedes-Benz Cars globally. After his first assignment in China from 2006-2009 he returned to lead the Dealer Network Development activities in China for the past 3 years. Apart from building up a physical dealer network in China for Mercedes-Benz, one of his focus areas is also providing an excellent O2O experience. The Mercedes me Store in Beijing Sanlitun is one of his more recent projects which attracted well over 1mio. visitors in the past 12 months. 

10:50 am: Presentation: E-Commerce Builds Finally the Bridge Between Marketing and R&D
By Mr. Peter Albrecht, Manager of UNITY Consulting & Innovation China
Peter Albrecht’s extensive experience in automotive consulting in various business departments sharpened his eye on cross-functional obstacles of major automotive OEMs. His present consulting work focuses on Industry 4.0 strategies, R&D management, operational excellence and E-Commerce related topics.

 
11:10 am: Panel discussion: E- Commerce in Automotive Industry

Moderator: Mr. Michael Adick, Managing Director, Auto Industry, Accenture Greater China
Michael is Managing Director Automotive Industry at Accenture Greater China. With near 18 years of hands-on industry and consulting experience in China, Michael is intimately familiar with the automotive industry and focuses primarily on supporting the major automotive OEMs with their Strategy, Marketing, Sales and Aftersales topics in China.

Panel additionally includes:

Mr. Gao Feng, General Manager, China & HongKong, RedBook Automotive Data Services (Beijing) Limited
Feng Gao, GM of RedBook Automotive Data Service; 5 years with RedBook China, more than 23 years experience of China automotive industry; deep insight in used car residual value and market research...

 

 
11:40 am: Q&A
 
Where: Mercedes me Sanlitun
             No. 1 South Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
             北京市朝阳区南三里屯路1号
 

Fee: 150 RMB/Person, incl. Morning Coffee for Annual Sponsors with RSVP by November 20
        250 RMB/Person, incl. Morning Coffee for Non-Sponsors with RSVP by November 20
(Please note only cash or pre-payment via bank transfer is accepted)

 
Language: English
 

If you like to attend, RSVP via email kathrin@g-i-events.com or lucia@g-i-events.com by November 20 , 2017. 
In case you register but cannot attend, please cancel your reservation before November 20. Otherwise you will be invoiced for the event.