Society of Automotive Analysts

03/18/2026

Webinar Update: Unlocking Sustainable Value in Software-Defined Vehicles: An AlixPartners’ Study Informed by a Multi-Region Executives Survey

SAA members are invited to attend this free Automotive Press Association webinar on Wednesday, April 8, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 pm ET.

Everyone agrees that software-defined vehicles (SDV) hold great promise for the auto industry—but when will that promise come to full fruition? And, more importantly, what can automakers, auto suppliers, and tech companies do to be among the winners in the transition?

Those are among the questions to be answered by Himanshu Khandelwal, Partner and Managing Director in the Automotive & Industrial Practice at AlixPartners, and Dennis Röhr, Partner and Managing Director at Berylls by AlixPartners. And their insights will be informed by an international survey of 1,000 senior-level executives involved in SDVs from around the world, including China, the U.S., and Europe.

There is no need to register. Simply join the webinar by using this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87300955878

03/05/2026

Don't miss the next Plante Moran Coffee break as Dan Lee and Austin Biskner will discuss Affordability in Auto — Smarter Ways to Innovate. Register for this free, 15-minute event at https://saaauto.com/event/coffee-break-mid-year-review-of-the-automotive-industry/

02/27/2026

Innovation looks different in today’s affordability‑driven market. Join the experts from Plante Moran on March 11 for a brief discussion on how automotive suppliers are rethinking product and operational innovation to stay competitive amid ongoing cost pressures. We’ll share where innovation is creating value today and what it means for supplier strategy.

The 15-minute briefing is free, but registration is required. Register at: https://saaauto.com/event/coffee-break-mid-year-review-of-the-automotive-industry/

02/26/2026

Thank you to Jennifer Bender and Graham Gordon of Ipsos Strategy3 for providing very insightful comments relating to the company's Global Trends report. If you missed it, or would like to watch it again, check it out under "Presentations" in the Members Section of the SAA website (SAAauto.com).

02/18/2026

Global optimism has taken a hit in 2025 with a 7-point drop in citizens around the world feeling optimistic about themselves and about their community. Now, just 59% say they are optimistic about themselves and their famil,y and 45% are optimistic about the city or town where they live. This drop in optimism is striking and has broad implications for corporate and policy leaders alike.

These findings are part of the 9th edition of the Ipsos Global Trends report, the largest and broadest report of its kind. Find out more about the report and how it may impact the auto industry during a free webinar on Feb. 25. Register today at

« All Events Unlock the Latest Consumer Behavior Trends: Essential Ipsos Global Trends Toolkit for SAA (Webinar) February 25 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm « 39th Annual Automotive Outlook Conference Global optimism plummeted in 2025: Only 59% of consumers remain optimistic about themselves and their famili...

02/16/2026

Innovation looks different in today’s affordability-driven market. Join the experts from Plante Moran on March 11 for SAA’s next Coffee Break and a brief discussion on how automotive suppliers are rethinking product and operational innovation to stay competitive amid ongoing cost pressures. We’ll share where innovation is creating value today and what it means for supplier strategy.

Registration is free, but registration is required: https://saaauto.com/event/coffee-break-mid-year-review-of-the-automotive-industry/

02/02/2026

Global optimism plummeted in 2025: Only 59% of consumers remain optimistic about themselves and their families, and just 45% about their communities.

Join SAA and Ipsos on February 25 for a free webinar that will examine insights taken from the ninth annual Ipsos Global Trends report: ‘The Uneasy Decade.’ This report captures the mid-decade shift, drawing on data from 43 global markets and insights from over 5 million data points.

Jennifer Bender, Global Head of Trends & Foresight and Associate Partner, Ipsos Strategy3, will lead the discussion and answer questions.

Register today at https://saaauto.com/event/unlock-the-latest-consumer-behavior-trends-essential-ipsos-global-trends-toolkit-for-saa/

01/30/2026

SAA's 39th Annual Automotive Outlook Conference is in the books. Thanks to all the attendees who sold out the auditorium at FANUC America Corporation in Rochester Hills -- and, of course, to all the amazing speakers who provided great insight on the year ahead. Presentations are now on the SAA website (in the Members Section).

Thanks to FANUC for their hospitality and for providing exclusive tours after the Summit, and to all of our speakers: Charles Chesbrough of Cox Automotive Inc., David Oakley of GlobalData Automotive, Eric Anderson, MBA of S&P Global Mobility, Colin Langan of Wells Fargo, Mark Barrott of Plante Moran, K.C. Boyce of Escalent, Jayada Pandit of KPIT, David Astrauckas of FANUC, and to our Q&A moderator, Jamie Butters.

01/20/2026

SAA’s Young Professionals Network Announces Leaders

SAA’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) announced its 2026 leadership. The YPN aims to foster connections and create growth opportunities for young professionals in the automotive industry through insightful events and networking opportunities. Leaders for 2026 are:

• Chairman: Ashwin Umamaheswaran, North American Marketing Lead, Caresoft Global
• Lead: Carl Rivera, Vice President, Middle Market Banking, Comerica
• Co-Lead: Alli Wheatley, Business Development Manager, Roush

The SAA thanks Joe Tenbusch, Managing Director, Microtech Ventures, and Jeff Johnson, Principal, Plante Moran, who led the YPN to significant growth in prior years.

01/19/2026

Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA) Announces Updates to Its 2026 Board of Directors; Adam Bernard to Serve Second Term

January 19, 2026 -- The Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA) has announced its Board of Directors for 2026. Adam Bernard, Founder and Principal of AutoPerspectives, will serve a second term as SAA president, while Mark Barrott, Partner, Plante Moran, steps into the vice president role. The SAA, now in its 39th year, provides outstanding networking opportunities, timely and useful data and a forum for the discussion and dissemination of ideas, concepts and solutions.

Steve Hallman, Global Marketing Director of Body and Chassis, Magna International, remains the SAA Chairman. Joining the Board are Jayada Pandit, Business Development, Strategic Client Relationships, KPIT Technologies, and Bill Rinna, Vice President, Americas Automotive, GlobalData Automotive.

The complete 2026 SAA Board of Directors includes:

Officers:
• President – Adam Bernard, Founder and Principal of AutoPerspectives
• Vice President – Mark Barrott, Partner, Plante Moran
• Treasurer – Jeff Bagalis, Managing Director, Accurity Group LLC
• Secretary -- Jeremy Lamb, Managing Director, Donnelly Penman and Partners

Directors:
• Abey Abraham, Managing Principal, Ducker Carlisle
• Andy Almy, Director, Global Market Research, BorgWarner
• Anne Cascadden, Trade Commissioner, Canadian Consulate General
• Matt Grecki, Manager, Vehicle and Technology Competitor Insights, General Motors
• Ken Horbatiuk, Manager of Competitive Intelligence, Stellantis
• Fred Hubacker, Managing Director, GTO Advisory Partners
• Manoj Jasrotia, Vice President-North America, Caresoft Global
• Cristi Landy, Consultant for Advanced Technology
• Colin Langan, Automotive and Mobility Analyst, Wells Fargo
• Raj Paul, Regional Industry Business Leader, Automotive Americas, Microsoft
• David Petrovski, Director of Sales, S&P Global Mobility
• Jayada Pandit, Business Development, Strategic Client Relationships, KPIT Technologies
• Anthony Pratt, Global Dealer Engagement Strategy & Benchmarking Lead, Ford Motor Co.
• Bill Rinna, Vice President, Americas Automotive, GlobalData Automotive
• Jeff Schuster, Director, Automotive Market Insights, S&P Global Mobility
• Ethan Snyder, Director, Strategic Projects, Hyundai Motor America
• Ann Marie Uetz, Partner, Foley & Lardner
• Mike VanNieuwkuyk, Executive Vice President, Global Head of Vehicle Quality & Automotive Client Officer, Ipsos

SAA’s Young Professionals Network Announces Leaders

SAA’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) also announced its 2026 leadership. The YPN aims to foster connections and create growth opportunities for young professionals in the automotive industry through insightful events and networking opportunities. Leaders for 2026 are:

• Chairman: Ashwin Umamaheswaran, North American Marketing Lead, Caresoft Global
• Lead: Carl Rivera, Vice President, Middle Market Banking, Comerica
• Co-Lead: Alli Wheatley, Business Development Manager, Roush

The SAA thanks Joe Tenbusch, Managing Director, Microtech Ventures, and Jeff Johnson, Principal, Plante Moran, who led the YPN to significant growth in prior years.

01/16/2026

Less than two weeks until the 39th Annual Automotive Outlook Conference! Have you registered yet? Registrations are coming in fast, and only 40 spots remain.

Join the SAA on January 29 at FANUC America in Rochester Hills, MI, for the premier automotive outlook conference providing valuable insights into the future of the automotive industry in 2026 and beyond. Leaders from some of the industry’s top forecasting and consulting companies will discuss timely topics such as affordability, the EV pivot, U.S. demand, and more.

For more information and to register, go to: https://saaauto.com/event/38th-annual-automotive-outlook-conference/

01/13/2026

To my fellow automotive industry professionals:

We are just a couple of weeks into 2026, and already, the auto industry is in full swing. Last week’s CES in Las Vegas introduced new mobility technologies, a heightened focus on autonomy, and a preview of what Chinese automakers have in store. The Detroit Auto Show, starting this week, is sure to generate new enthusiasm for the North American auto industry.

Coming off an unpredictable 2025, it’s still difficult to fully predict what 2026 has up its sleeves. Shifting automaker priorities, vehicle affordability and other consumer dynamics, a stronger-than-expected economy, and continued implementation — or the threat of implementation — of tariffs are just a few of the topics we are all monitoring.

While 2026 remains unpredictable, one thing is certain: The Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA) will continue to stay on top of these issues and deliver the latest insights to its members. We will also to continue to partner with organizations like the Automotive Press Association to help keep our members fully informed.

SAA members and guests experienced insightful, timely virtual and in-person events in 2025, and that momentum will continue in 2026. I strongly recommend that you attend our annual flagship event, SAA’s Automotive Outlook Conference, which will take place on January 29 at FANUC America in Rochester Hills, MI. The event will provide valuable insights into the automotive industry through 2026 and beyond and will feature leading industry analysts from S&P Global Mobility, Plante Moran, GlobalData, Cox Automotive, Wells Fargo, Escalent, FANUC, and KPIT. Veteran automotive journalist Jamie Butters will moderate an interactive Q&A session.

If you are currently an SAA member, thank you for your loyalty to the organization. If you are not a member, there is no better time to join. By registering for the Outlook Conference at $199, you will receive a one-year membership to the SAA (a $150 value), which will more than pay for itself through reduced or free admissions to SAA events for the rest of the year.

I also encourage you to check our website regularly (www.SAAauto.com) for updates on the latest SAA events, and follow our page on LinkedIn. We have some outstanding events planned for this year. Finally, please reach out to me at [email protected] if you have any ideas, thoughts, or opinions you would like to share with the SAA Board or me.

On behalf of the SAA Board, we hope you and your family have a safe and healthy 2026! See you on January 29th at the Outlook Conference.

Sincerely,

Adam Bernard
Founder and Principal, AutoPerspectives
President, Board of Directors, SAA