Panels feature some of industry's top executives.(Automotive Engineers World Congress )

The annual Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress next week will feature seven panel discussions on topics such as innovation, safety and energy at the AVL Technology Theater inside Detroit's Cobo Center.

April 3

* 9:30 a.m.

Opening remarks by Burkhard Goeschel, member, board of management, BMW AG; Richard Schaum, SAE automotive vice president; and Helmut List, CEO, AVL List GmbH

* 10 a.m.

Topic: Innovation in the Automotive Industry - An Extended Session Covering Managing Innovation and Driving Innovation with Research

Panelists: Jose Maria Alapont, CEO, Federal-Mogul Corp.; Hirohide Ikeno, president, Honda R&D Americas Inc.; William Kozyra, CEO, Continental Teves North America; Jeffery Makarewicz, general manager, materials research department, Toyota …