European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA)

About the Committee:

Welcome to the ACEA committee, or the European Automotive Manufacturers Association! This is a board of directors comprised of several major car and truck manufacturers around the world. After the European Union has officially announced a ban on combustion engine vehicles (gas powered cars) by the year 2035, these car companies are going to need to ban together to protect their businesses’ livelihoods– whether that means joining the electric car movement or finding a way to stop it altogether. This committee will explore the ethics and regulations of electric vehicles, including the feasibility of alternatively powered cars (hydrogen, synthetic gasoline, etc.), and also will debate the EU’s combustion engine ban as a whole. This is a specialized hybrid committee. This means that this is a small committee of delegates that pass resolutions to solve the issues in the front room– much like a GA or specialized– but delegates will also write crisis notes to a backroom that will drop crises depending on the timeline and actions taken by the committee.

A LETTER FROM THE DaiS:

Hello Delegates!

Welcome to the ACEA committee, or the European Automotive Manufacturers Association! This is a board of directors comprised of several major car and truck manufacturers around the world. After the European Union has officially announced a ban on combustion engine vehicles (gas powered cars) by the year 2035, these car companies are going to need to ban together to protect their businesses’ livelihoods– whether that means joining the electric car movement or finding a way to stop it altogether. This committee will explore the ethics and regulations of electric vehicles, including the feasibility of alternatively powered cars (hydrogen, synthetic gasoline, etc.), and also will debate the EU’s combustion engine ban as a whole. This is a specialized hybrid committee. This means that this is a small committee of delegates that pass resolutions to solve the issues in the front room– much like a GA or specialized– but delegates will also write crisis notes to a backroom that will drop crises depending on the timeline and actions taken by the committee.

My name is Gabby Scott and I am electrified to be one of your co-directors for the ACEA committee this year! I am a junior in the college of Literature, Science, and the Arts studying political science and English and minoring in dance. Outside of MUNUM, I am on BlueMUN, Michigan’s competitive Model UN team, I am one of the LSA Undergraduate Representatives for SACUA Faculty Senate, the co-leader and founder of West Michigan March for Our Lives/Everytown joint chapter, a founder and leader of Students Demand Action at the University of Michigan, a member of Women in Law club, and a Graham Sustainability Scholar through the Program in the Environment. I also just finished a summer internship at General Motors in the Student Corps/Philanthropy department. Outside of school, I love the beach and stand up paddleboarding, swimming, and surfing on Lake Michigan. I love to travel, thrift, discover new music, collect hot wheels, unicycle, and hang out with my friends! Model UN has been an amazing opportunity for me to meet new people and diversify my knowledge of politics and culture around the world. I am very excited to see what you all can accomplish, and hope that you all will enjoy Model UN as much as I do!

My name is Jonathan Zenkich, and I’m charged up to be one of your co-directors for the ACEA. I am a junior in the Ross School of Business specializing in Finance and Strategy, and minoring in Public Policy and Real Estate Development. Outside of MUNUM, I am a member of Michigan’s competitive Model UN team, BlueMUN, Michigan’s student-run startup accelerator/VC, UpRound Ventures, a consulting club and a pre-law fraternity. Outside of school, I’m an avid collector, collecting coins and Hot Wheels, and am also a metal detectorist (one of those people who walks around digging up pennies on the beach) and fishkeeper. Model UN, and all of my hobbies, have given me a deep appreciation for history and the people around me. I know that Model UN can do the same for you, so I’m looking forward to playing a small part in that development through this committee. I’m looking forward to watching you all work together to resolve historically relevant issues from a perspective you may not have explored before.

My name is Stuart Sheffield and I am practically revving my engine about being your assistant director for the ACEA. I am a Sophomore in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, studying a Bachelors in Fine Arts: Theater Performance, Directing, and minoring in Political Science through the school of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Outside of MUNUM, I am a member of the University’s competitive MUN team, BlueMUN, a featured performer in Amateur Hour Comedy Club, and a performer and director in various UMich student theatrical and film organizations. Outside of school, I run, watch and play soccer, play the guitar, and I dabble in being British, whenever it feels appropriate. In my free time, I’m a semi-professional skydiver, and was the first under 21 year old to skydive from 25,000 feet (at the age of 7). Model UN has offered me an opportunity to learn and apply history, to work with others, to socialize, and to practice public speaking and thinking under pressure in a fun setting. I’m sure you’ll love our ACEA committee- and use this chance to work on and practice those same skills, and have a good time. I’m very excited to see what you guys do!

We are excited to see you debate solutions to the challenges faced by the ACEA and major players in the automotive industry. As a specialized committee, this committee will focus on the ban on the sale of combustion engine vehicles in European Union member states by 2035 and the ethics of producing electric vehicles. We expect that this committee will find ways to effectively maintain its hold on power while balancing environmental, ethical, and economic concerns. We hope that delegates will learn something new about the transforming landscape of mobility and technology, and we look forward to seeing how you respond to this incredibly important and relevant moment in our history.

If you have any questions about our committee or MUNUM in general, feel free to email us at gabscott@umich.edu, jzenkich@umich.edu, or sshef@umich.edu.

Best,

Gabby, Jonathan, and Stuart