Dr. Helmut Becker is a world-renowned expert on the automotive industry. He has served on the staff of the German Council of Economic Advisors. As Chief Economist at BMW, he headed the Corporate Economic Research and Policy department for several of his twenty plus years there. Currently, he is the founder and CEO of Business Relations Company AG, and in addition, runs his own institute for economic analysis. Dr. Becker holds degrees in Economics and Business Studies and a PhD in Political Science.

• The current situation: markets in upheaval, turbulence in the sector oligopoly.- The Western European automotive industry: cost stress and profit pressure.- Global mega trends until 2015: intensified selection process.- Further concentration of automobile manufacturers by 2015.- Consequences for the Components Supply Industry.- The future map of global vehicle location — some reflections.

Dr. Helmut Becker is a world-renowned expert on the automotive industry. He has served on the staff of the German Council of Economic Advisors. As Chief Economist at BMW, he headed the Corporate Economic Research and Policy department for several of his twenty plus years there. Currently, he is the founder and CEO of Business Relations Company AG, and in addition, runs his own institute for economic analysis. Dr. Becker holds degrees in Economics and Business Studies and a PhD in Political Science.

• The current situation: markets in upheaval, turbulence in the sector oligopoly.- The Western European automotive industry: cost stress and profit pressure.- Global mega trends until 2015: intensified selection process.- Further concentration of automobile manufacturers by 2015.- Consequences for the Components Supply Industry.- The future map of global vehicle location — some reflections.

Dr. Helmut Becker is a world-renowned expert on the automotive industry. He has served on the staff of the German Council of Economic Advisors. As Chief Economist at BMW, he headed the Corporate Economic Research and Policy department for several of his twenty plus years there. Currently, he is the founder and CEO of Business Relations Company AG, and in addition, runs his own institute for economic analysis. Dr. Becker holds degrees in Economics and Business Studies and a PhD in Political Science.

• The current situation: markets in upheaval, turbulence in the sector oligopoly.- The Western European automotive industry: cost stress and profit pressure.- Global mega trends until 2015: intensified selection process.- Further concentration of automobile manufacturers by 2015.- Consequences for the Components Supply Industry.- The future map of global vehicle location — some reflections.