Hear from Doug L. Parks, the person leading the development of GM’s electric and autonomous vehicle programs, at the Detroit Concours d’Elegance Motor City Party

With the Detroit Concours d’Elegance festivities taking place September 17 – 18, 2022, the Motor City will be packed with immersive automotive experiences including a party Saturday night featuring a roundtable discussion with leaders of the car world. The Motor City Party will be held at the College for Creative Studies from 6:30pm-10:00pm. One of the panelists speaking about the future of the automobile industry will be Doug Parks.

Doug Parks has been Executive Vice President of Global Product Development at General Motors since 2019. This puts him in charge of engineering, purchasing, and supply chain logistics for all GM brands. He has played a big part in GMs development of autonomous vehicles.

Parks was previously the Vice President of Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Programs for GM and helped establish the framework for GM’s continual transformation to an all-electric future. He oversaw the team that developed the Cruise AV, a Chevy Bolt based autonomous vehicle. He also helped launch the industry’s first hands-free driving technology for compatible highways when GM introduced Super Cruise on the 2018 Cadillac CT6. In fact, Mr. Parks had his hand in all of GM’s other hybrid and electric vehicle programs. He has been with GM for over 35 years and has a degree from Michigan Tech University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Beginning his career with GM in 1984, Doug Parks has worked in a variety of engineering and finance roles with the company including spending three years in Germany as the global vehicle chief engineer for GM’s compact vehicles.

Hearing the perspective on the future of the automobile industry from a man who has been instrumental in leading the development of GM’s electric and autonomous vehicle programs will be very insightful. If you’d like to hear from Doug Parks join Hagerty at the Motor City Party where he will be a panelist. Other panelists include McKeel Hagerty CEO, Hagerty; Hau Thai-Tang Chief Product Platform and Operations Officer, Ford; and Ralph Gilles Chief Design Officer, Stellantis. They will discuss the future of the automobile industry and what they’re doing to keep driving alive. The party will also pay tribute to our 2022 Honoree, Ed Welburn, a designer, Automotive Hall of Fame inductee, and former General Motors Vice President of Global Design.

About the Motor City Party

The party will provide a uniquely Detroit experience, including skyline views from the original office of Harley Earl on 11th floor of this iconic Art Deco building, an open bar and roving gourmet dinner. Tickets are $275 and attendees must be over 21+. Hagerty Drivers Club members save 20%. The automobile industry is transitioning to a different future. To hear what this means for those who love to drive, come hear this lively discussion from several top auto executives who are leading this change and are also rabid driving and car enthusiasts.

For more information and tickets visit https://detroitconcours.com/

Tickets for the Detroit Concours weekend available now

Tickets and ticket packages for the inaugural Detroit Concours weekend, September 17-18, 2022, are available online.

Saturday’s Cars & Community is a family-friendly celebration of the automobile in the parking areas adjacent to Comerica Park. Cars & Community features three unique shows in one: RADwood, a celebration of 1980s and 1990s lifestyle, blending period correct dress with automotive awesomeness; Concours d’Lemons, a motoring festival designed to celebrate the oddball, mundane and unexceptional of the automotive world; and Cars & Caffeine, designed as a curated showcase for local car clubs. Youth will enjoy spending time in the Kids Zone, featuring racing simulators and more.

Saturday night is the Motor City Party celebrating 2022 Honoree, Ed Welburn.

Sunday’s Detroit Concours d’Elegance features 140 historically significant vehicles displayed on the lawns surrounding the Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit-inspired featured classes include the Cars of Harley Earl, Detroit Autorama and the Cars of Woodward Ave. Built upon the Concours d’Elegance of America’s four decades of excellence, the reimagined event will place participants right in the middle of the thriving design, music, and sporting heart of Detroit. Hagerty is proud to invest in downtown Detroit, just blocks from where so much of car culture was forged.