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WASHINGTON, Dec. 12. 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dinesh Paliwal, chairman, president and CEO of HARMAN, will deliver the annual industry keynote address at the 2017 Washington Auto Show's Public Policy Day Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Sponsored by Washington Automotive Press Association (WAPA) and International Motor Press Association (IMPA), the newsmaker breakfast and keynote will launch a full day of press conferences and special events ending with a Sneak Peek Reception for government, industry and business officials.

"There is perhaps no greater innovation shaping our industry than connected vehicle technology – and no better insider to address this new frontier than Dinesh Paliwal," said Geoff Pohanka, chairman of the 2017 Washington Auto Show and metro board representative of the National Automobile Dealers Association.

Since taking the reins of HARMAN nearly 10 years ago, Paliwal has transformed the company into a premier connected technologies leader that is enabling the connected car and autonomous driving. With the announcement last month that Samsung intends to acquire HARMAN, the company is poised to accelerate its growth and influence in Automotive to bring even more powerful, productive and personalized in-vehicle experiences to automakers and their drivers around the world.

"Connected vehicle technologies are revolutionizing and democratizing transportation for safer, smarter, more responsible and more accessible driving," Paliwal says. "To realize the incredible potential of connected cars and autonomous driving, we must continue to forge innovative global partnerships that engage everyone from automakers and Internet of Things players to government and educational institutions. We are at an incredibly exciting point of development – and disruption – in Automotive, and I am grateful to The Washington Auto Show for connecting all of the key stakeholders and encouraging greater collaborations to help realize this next frontier in transportation."

Prior to joining HARMAN, Paliwal spent 22 years with ABB Group, where he last held the dual role of President of ABB Group, responsible for the company's global P&L, and Chairman and CEO of ABB- North America, where he reversed 18 years of losses to attain profitable growth.

In addition to the Harman Board, Paliwal serves on the Board of Directors for Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and the Raytheon Company. He is a member of the CEO Business Roundtable in Washington, DC, the U.S. India Business CEO Forum, and the US India Business Council (USIBC) Board of Directors.

The 2017 Washington Auto Show Policy Days begin Tuesday, Jan. 24 with MobilityTalks International^SM, a two-day preview event designed for governments from around the world to exchange ideas on best practices related to emerging trends in transportation and regulatory issues surrounding connected and autonomous vehicles. Geared toward officials in industry, government and media, this inaugural symposium will feature breakout sessions on such topics as human-machine interface technology, spectrum sharing and cybersecurity along with a Wednesday Capitol Hill forum on regulation and an Interactive Mobility Experience with the U.S. Dept. of Transportation at the RFK Stadium.

The public policy show on the auto show circuit, The Washington Auto Show connects industry leaders with public policy makers, a nexus underscored at the show's Public Policy Preview Days. Held in advance of the 10-day public show, the preview days convene thought leaders at the intersection of industry and policy to tackle some of the most pressing issues in the automotive sector.  The changing landscape of transportation presents lawmakers and regulators with unique challenges and opportunities that can be more effectively addressed through partnership and collaboration.

SOURCE The Washington Auto Show