As a non-profit industry association, the Automotive Safety Council is dedicated to providing value to our member companies.  Industry groups and associations play an important part in our free enterprise system of economics. They provide the interface and transfer of information that our governing bodies need to make decisions, laws, regulations and standards. This is a key factor in a highly regulated industry such as ours. Not only does this interface help the government, it also benefits our industry. Below are four key points I think are essential to any industry organization.

•     First, the organization should facilitate obtaining consensus on key issues for the purpose of taking actions. These actions can include communicating positions to the government and/or legislative branches, the public or other organizations to educate, to inform, to prevent or stop a practice that is detrimental or unwise, or to promote a given position.  If you consider this for a moment, this is the most economical and effective approach for a good industry group. Think of the effort and expense for an individual company to communicate over such a broad spectrum. Consider the effectiveness of a single company undertaking compared to the results of an industry-wide effort. Key to this is that ASC's member companies represent more than 90% of the automotive safety supplier industry. 

We provide an open interface on non-competitive issues through our annual meeting, committee work, electronic communication and interaction with other industry organizations. Our industry positions and programs are widely communicated through our interactive website (www.automotivesafetycouncil.org), a timely president's letter containing the latest NHTSA news, frequent press releases and meetings with regulatory agencies. This provides our membership with an efficient means of establishing positions and speaking out effectively. 

•     Second, the organization must be a well established, non-profit entity in order to concentrate on industry needs and issues and not on internal themes and conflicts. 

The Automotive Safety Council was established in 1961 at the request of the National Safety Council to oversee the quality and business practices of the new automotive seat belt industry, today we encompass the full spectrum of Active , Passive , Interior and Child safety components and still have many of the original charter members. The Council operates under the guidance of a board of directors and an executive committee with a president and administrator to carry out the day to day business of the organization.

•      Third, the organization must be active, well recognized and respected, with the ability to effectively interface with the government and the rest of the automotive industry, including the automobile manufacturers.

The Automotive Safety Council has thirteen active committees including eleven focusing on technical issues and two others to handle public education and government relations. The work of these committees benefits all members and the entire industry. We work with many government agencies on standards, technology and safety issues. We provide comments and petitions to the NHTSA and information to the Congress as needed in considering legislation. We are not a lobbying organization – we are an educator and information provider.  We maintain a presence in Washington, DC to work closely with other industry associations, such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, the National Safety Council and the Automotive Recyclers Association. We recognize that such interface, especially in Washington, makes us a more effective and visible organization assisting our members and our industry by promoting beneficial legislation and regulations and maintaining a positive public image.

¨      Finally, an industry group must be open to new approaches and new ideas, communicating with the membership and providing needed information.

The Automotive Safety Council is a dynamic organization. Half of our committees were formed within the past five years in reaction to immediate industry needs or anticipation of future issues. At our annual general meeting we include two days of timely technical presentations, informative guest speakers and industry discussion, along with social events to provide an opportunity for networking and interface.  

In summary, being a member of an industry organization should provide an opportunity for individual company positions and needs to be heard and acted on. Membership should provide a key government-industry conduit and access to information that provides a broader knowledge of the latest industry developments and concerns. I believe ASC membership provides all this. Plus, with new regulatory action under the Transportation Bills passed by congress every 5 years and the Advanced Restraints Standards under various FMVSS regulations as well as NCAP, Euro NCAP and emerging market regulations,  I believe the AORC will be more important than ever in keeping our members informed and promoting their positions.

Sincerely yours,

Douglas Campbell

President

Automotive Safety Council