WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Financial Services Association announced that its 12th Vehicle Finance Conference and Expo is slated for Feb. 6 to 8 at The Palace Hotel in San Francisco, Calif.

The meeting will take place just before the National Automobile Dealers Association's Annual Convention, which will be held February 9 to 12 at San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center.

The AFSA event is sponsored by AFSA's Vehicle Finance Division and the AFSA Education Foundation.

"This will mark the fifth consecutive year that AFSA and NADA coordinate their respective meetings to create a two-for-one conference opportunity for industry executives," explained Donald Gottwald, who serves as chairman of AFSA's Vehicle Finance Division Advisory Board, as well as group director and chief marketing officer for HSBC Auto Finance.

"It's a format that has been a wonderful success, resulting in increased attendance and a valuable way to exchange information between the lender and dealer communities," he added.

He pointed out that the ‘07 vehicle finance conference in Las Vegas attracted nearly 400 executives.

Registration for the 2008 Vehicle Finance Conference and Expo will begin in the fall.

Members of the AFSA Vehicle Finance Division include: captive vehicle finance companies; diversified financial services companies providing financing and leasing of all makes and models; finance companies specializing in prime, near prime and subprime vehicle finance; and suppliers to the industry.

For more information about the conference, please contact the AFSA Meetings and Conferences Department at (202) 296-5544, e-mail meetings@afsamail.org or check the association's Web site at www.afsaonline.org.

For exhibit and sponsorship opportunities, contact Tom Thomas at tthomas@afsamail.org.