Georgia Tech Auto Show Expands to Two-Day Event

Drawing from the Institute's racing roots and affinity for classic cars, the Georgia Tech Auto Show has become a spring staple on campus since its inception in 2003. Its evolution continues this year with the addition of the Mobility Seminar on Friday, April 3, and a special presentation from Hyundai on Saturday, April 4.

Leading into Saturday's auto show, the Friday seminar - with a theme of alternative energy and design for sustainable mobility - will feature a trio of experts offering insights into the industry and the technologies shaping the future of transportation.

Seminar Schedule

Registration is open from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 102 of the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons, where the seminar will begin after opening remarks from EunSookKwon, professor and chair of the School of Industrial Design.

1:15 - 1:45 p.m.

Building for Adventure: The Rivian Design Process
Jonathan James Szczupak, Senior Director of Design, Rivian

1:45 - 2:15 p.m.

Building a Future-Ready Workforce in the Age of AI
Holly Ma, Vice President of Data Engineering, Cox Automotive

2:15 - 2:45 p.m.

Panel Discussion With Szczupak and Ma

3 - 3:45 p.m.

Decades of Automotive Design
Tom Shinall, Director of Curatorial Services, Savoy Automobile Museum

3:45 - 4:30 p.m.

Student Competition Center Presentation

Hosted by David Lynn, former race car designer and School of Industrial Design lecturer

Learn about seven of Georgia Tech's student engineering competition teams housed in the Student Competition Center (SCC). The SCC offers extensive machining resources and fosters engineering innovation for students from across campus.

4:30 - 5 p.m.

Closing Remarks

Sterling Skinner, a laboratory manager at the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, and David Lynn, a lecturer in the School of Industrial Design, started the auto show in 2003.

"Our goal all along has been to expand the auto show into more than just a one-day event, to bring in more speakers, and to provide an educational and informative opportunity that encourages interaction between industry experts and our audience surrounding relevant topics, and broaden the scope of our conversations," Lynn said.

Curating the lineup of speakers and presentations, Nyasha Farrington, event coordinator in the College of Design, says the team worked to provide a comprehensive look at the auto manufacturing process.

"We really wanted to gear this seminar toward our students, and what they are interested in pursuing as a career, so we hope to give them a start-to-finish takeaway - from the design to the manufacturing to the marketing aspects of the automotive industry," she said.

Saturday Slate

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., classic cars, concept vehicles, unfinished student projects, and everything in between will be parked in the center of campus - on the walkways surrounding the East and West Architecture Buildings, the John and Joyce Caddell Building, Koan Plaza, and Texas Instruments Plaza in front of the Van Leer Building. For younger car enthusiasts, the show will also feature a workshop with The Home Depot, where children can build their own race car.

A lifelong car enthusiast, Lynn sees the auto show as an opportunity for visitors to gain a new perspective on the automotive industry and the vehicles on display.

"We are all used to seeing cars in a parking lot, but when you see them there, sometimes you can take them for granted. When you see them out in this sculpture garden setup that we are trying to emulate, whether it's a Camry or a Lamborghini, you can appreciate their form much better and see them as art and in more of a historical context, and that's part of the educational process," Lynn said.

Both days of the event are free and open to the public. RSVP for Friday's seminar here, and Saturday's auto show and presentation here.

Fill out this form if you are interested in registering a vehicle for the auto show. Owners of classic antique cars, late-model modified cars, 4×4 off-road trucks, hot rods, cars modified with alternative power delivery (electric, fuel cell), daily drivers, kit cars, race cars, concept cars, prototype cars, and all kinds of motorcycles are encouraged to participate.