Propulsion Strategies for the 21st Century: Facing Radical Change

Wed Jul 15 2026 at 09:00 am to 01:00 pm UTC-04:00

University of Michigan North Campus Research Complex, Building 18 Entrance | Ann Arbor

Bruce M. Belzowski
Publisher/HostBruce M. Belzowski
Propulsion Strategies for the 21st Century:  Facing Radical Change
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This conference will examine how manufacturers and suppliers are managing radical shifts in propulsion regulations and policies.
About this Event

18th Annual Propulsion Strategies for the 21st Century: Facing Radical Change

July 15, 2026


This conference will be a hybrid conference with options to attend in person or to view via a YouTube livestream.
Our 18th Annual Propulsion Strategies for the 21st Century Conference on July 15th at the University of Michigan is titled, “Facing Radical Change.” We’ll be discussing our recent PTS21 survey results based on the same topic of Facing Radical Change.
One can argue that the gradual increases in emissions regulations and Corporate Average Fuel Economy of the 1980s and 90s were a stable time in auto regulations. But the 2000s, beginning with the 9/11 attack and the Republican president saying the US was “addicted to oil” along with the financial crisis, became a turning point as a Democratic president initiated a dramatic long term regulatory path followed by a Republican president who tried to undo those regulations, a Democratic president who then pushed even harder for regulatory and industrial policy for the auto industry, and our current Republican president who is undoing all of the previous administration policies and nearly eliminating all regulatory action. It’s a dizzying, roller coaster of radical changes that the auto industry, and especially propulsion managers, must face as the way of the future, at least in the US.
With this history in mind, our upcoming conference will focus on how auto manufacturers and suppliers plan these radical changes every 4 to 8 years into their current and future propulsion systems.
Confirmed Speakers include:
Bruce Belzowski, Managing Director, Automotive Futures will moderate the conference and provide an overview of the current propulsion trends in the industry.
Dave Royce, Vice President Global Public Policy and StrategyManaging Director, KPMG, will present the results from our recent Propulsion Strategies for the 21st Century industry survey of propulsion experts.



Conference Registration
Cost:
Automotive Futures Affiliates and Current UM Students, Faculty, and Staff, GERPISA members, and Media: FREE
For all others: $200 (Unchanged since our first conference in 2008)



Conference Sponsorship
Companies or groups interested in sponsoring this conference, please contact Bruce Belzowski at [email protected] or 734-936-2704. Sponsorship Amount (Minimum $1,000)



Propulsion Strategies for the 21st Century Affiliate Conference Sponsors
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

University of Michigan North Campus Research Complex, Building 18 Entrance, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, United States

Tickets

USD 0.00 to USD 200.00

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