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Meet the UbiMobility 2016 Delegation at Valeo Headquarters

Media Contacts: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications, 248.260.8466, barbara@eafocus.com; Stephanie Salvadero, French-American Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Chapter, 313.701.8294; salvaderos.faccmi@gmail.com

Detroit — May 16, 2016 — The French-American Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Chapter (FACC Michigan), a not-for-profit business organization committed to the improvement of economic, commercial and financial relations between France and the United States, has joined with Business France, a national French agency responsible for fostering export growth by French businesses, to host French Tech, Innovation & Savoir-Faire in Connected & Autonomous Vehicles on Thursday, June 9 at Valeo’s North American Headquarters in Troy, Mich.

The event ties into UbiMobility: Connected Cars France, a 10-month business immersion program designed to help French companies increase their visibility and gain access to the American autonomous vehicle market. Earlier in the year, a panel of judges from the U.S. automotive market selected eight of the most innovative French companies based on their “elevator pitches” to comprise the 2016 delegation.

As part of a two-week visit to the Detroit and San Francisco areas to jump-start their entry onto the North American market, members of the UbiMobility delegation will visit Valeo and participate in French Tech, Innovation & Savoir-Faire’s question and answer panel to discuss their technologies in autonomous and connected vehicles. The companies are:
• Akoustic-Arts – developer of a directional sound speaker that can separate and multiply audio content in an open space
• Arkamys – provides software that complements ADAS systems by providing a dynamic 3D sound alert positioning and movement effect
• Esi-Group – provides virtual prototyping software and services in the physics of materials and virtual manufacturing
• Faar Industry – offers expertise in embedded control electronics, tool development and technology R & D project management
• Optis – specializes in virtual prototyping for light, human vision and sensor simulation
• Pradeo – specializes in the mobile device security sector
• Prove & Run – helps solve security issues involved with connected vehicles
• Yogoko – offers communication solutions for connected vehicles

Cedric Ballarin, FACC Michigan president and president of FNK North America Co., Ltd., a joint venture between France-based Faurecia Automotive Seating and Japanese-based NHK, affirmed the importance of helping French start-ups get a foothold in the U.S. market, especially in Michigan.

“What a unique opportunity for these rising French companies to further develop and strengthen their relationships with Michigan innovators in the rapidly-growing autonomous vehicle market,” Mr. Ballarin said. “With all the new ventures emerging in the industry, we are happy to showcase their exceptional capabilities to meet the latest demands in the automotive industry and potentially increase French investment in Michigan.”

Details of French Tech, Innovation & Savoir-Faire in Connected & Autonomous Vehicles

What: Meet the UbiMobility 2016 Delegation. Business France worked with the French automotive, transportation and IT industries and clusters on a project called UbiMobility to identify up-and-coming French companies that had innovative technologies related to autonomous and connected vehicles. The companies were evaluated by a nine member panel of industry experts who selected the eight most promising companies that comprise the UbiMobility Delegation. These companies are coming to Detroit during their two week mission to the U.S. to jump-start their entry onto the North American market.

When: Thursday, June 9, 2016 – 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Where: Valeo, North America Headquarters, 150 Stephenson Highway, Troy, MI 48084

Cost: $50 for FACC Michigan members and guests; $75 for non-members; includes cocktails and networking reception.

Register: Register online by June 7. For more information about the event, please contact Stephanie Salvadero, executive director of FACC Michigan, at salvaderos.faccmi@gmail.com.

For more information about UbiMobility and the 2016 delegation, visit: http://www.ubimobility.org/.

About Business France
Business France is the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, responsible for fostering export growth by French businesses as well as promoting and facilitating international investment in France.

About the French-American Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Chapter
The Michigan Chapter of the French-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC Michigan) is a member of the French-American Chamber of Commerce – the oldest bilateral chamber of commerce in the United States, comprised of 21 chapters in major cities across the nation representing more than 5,000 member organizations. The FACC is a non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to the development of commercial relations between French and American businesses. Learn more at www.faccmi.org.

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