The Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA) and the Canadian Embassy in Rome are organizing Tavolo Canada, an Automotive, Connected Vehicle and Innovation partnering mission to Torino, Italy from February 7-9, 2012. The program will enable Canadian companies and research institutions to meet with key Italian automotive and connected vehicle companies, such as Magneti Marelli and purchasing representatives from FIAT, and leading Italian universities and research centres engaged in automotive and connected vehicle innovation, such as the National Research Council (CNR), the Turin Polytechnic and FIAT's research centre, Centro Ricerche FIAT (CRF).   

The automotive industry is the most important driver of the Italian economy. With a turnover in excess of 75 billion Euro, the industry accounts for a labour force of some 200,000 people, 885 parts manufacturers, and an additional 5,000 SME suppliers and service providers. The FIAT Group is the largest industrial enterprise in Italy and one of the founders of the European motor industry. FIAT has emerged from the recent crisis as a leader of tshe future global automotive industry and together with Chrysler is the world's 6th largest vehicle manufacturer. By 2014, the FIAT-Chrysler alliance forecasts a combined turnover of 100 billion Euro and an annual production in excess of 6 million units. FIAT Group Purchasing manages a global supply chain of more than 10,000 companies with a purchasing volume of more than 35 billion Euro and is undertaking a full review of its supply chain vis-à-vis its future North America production. As FIAT fully integrates its global supply base with that of Chrysler's, Italian suppliers will be keen to partner with firms in North America to establish a manufacturing footprint close to FIAT-Chrysler's plants. 

 Italy also offers a growing market and is home to a significant number of highly innovative players that are active at all levels of the value chain in the Connected Vehicle sector. Led by Magneti Marelli, FIAT's components group, and on the research side by FIAT's research centre (CRF) and universities such as the Turin and Milan Polytechnics and the University of Trento, Italy is an important global players in this sector engaging in research collaboration with counterparts worldwide. The Italian Ministry of Transport estimates that the Italian Intelligent Transport System (ITS) market, which includes the Connected Vehicle sector, will grow to over 1 billion Euro in 2012.

 The Mission's program includes:

• A networking reception with representatives from key Italian automotive and connected vehicle companies and research centres and universities
• A Tavola Canada Automotive, Connected Vehicle and Innovation Workshop featuring industry experts who will provide overviews of the automotive and connected vehicle industries, related innovation and technological excellence 
• A program of one-on-one B2B meetings
• Tailored programmes for each Canadian automotive and connected vehicle technology company including meetings with potential clients and partners
• Meetings with leading automotive and connected vehicle research organisations and innovating companies
• Supplier sessions with FIAT and Magneti Marelli purchasing managers