Conference 2026 themes

Developing the autonomous vehicle

The world-class Autonomous Vehicle Tech Expo Conference returns to Stuttgart in June 2026 with four major themes and multiple sub-topics, including Software, AI & SDV Architecture, Safe Autonomous Deployment, Simulation, Scenarios & Virtual Validation, as well as Standards, Regulation & System-Level Interoperability. If the future of ADAS and autonomous vehicle development impacts your business, this is a must-attend conference.

See more details of the themes and sub-topics below.

Software, AI & SDV Architecture

Building, securing, and scaling the brains of autonomous vehicles

Sub-topics:

End-to-end vs modular SDV development — what’s winning?
Next-generation perception & decision-making stacks
Machine learning pipelines, data governance & data-centric AI
OTA updates, cybersecurity, and protecting safety-critical software
AI verification, continuous validation & software quality assurance
Role of middleware, open standards, and cross-domain architectures

Safe Autonomous Deployment

From pilots to production: proving safety and earning public trust

Sub-topics:

Global deployment strategies (OEMs, fleets, robotaxi operators, AV startups)
Transitioning from prototypes → scalable commercial services
Real-world risk reduction, redundancy & fail-operational design
Public trust, communication, and human acceptance strategies
Scaling operations: mapping, localization, fleet management
Regulatory hurdles in real-world deployment scenarios

Simulation and Testing, Scenarios & Virtual Validation

Scenarios, ODD, digital twins - mastering simulation for faster, safer ADAS & AV development

Sub-topics:

Latest advancements in scenario generation, ODD modeling & edge-case discovery
Digital twins: city-scale vs component-level fidelity
Blending virtual + physical: SIL, HIL, VIL & on-road harmonisation
Massive-scale simulation for AI training and validation
Test track innovations & hybrid testing methodologies
Results and insights from leading AV/ADAS validation projects and consortiums

Standards, Regulation & System-Level Interoperability

Standards, V2X & ecosystem alignment - navigating the rules, aligning the ecosystem, enabling safe automation

Sub-topics:

Global regulatory updates shaping automated mobility (UN, EU, US, China)
Harmonising standards: ISO, SOTIF, NCAP, cybersecurity frameworks
Cross-industry interoperability: sensors, infrastructure, V2X
Homologation pathways for L2+ to L4 systems
Certification of AI-driven functions and software-defined systems
Collaboration between OEMs, suppliers, regulators & infrastructure operators

Why These Topics Are Being Addressed

AVT 2026 focuses on four critical pillars that reflect where the industry is moving:

Software, AI & SDV Architecture
Vehicle architectures are shifting rapidly toward compute-heavy SDV platforms.
OEMs need clarity on AI safety, data pipelines, integration challenges, and cybersecurity.
Safe Autonomous Deployment
OEMs are under pressure to mature supervised and unsupervised autonomy programs.
The industry needs real-world insights on scaling pilots, safety metrics, and public trust.
Simulation, Scenarios & Virtual Validation
Validation is the bottleneck for autonomy.
Scalable simulation, scenario automation, digital twins, and linkages to proving-ground testing are essential.
Regulation, Standards & Collaboration
UNECE, ISO and global regulatory changes are accelerating.
OEMs can benefit greatly from alignment, shared assets, and system-level interoperability.

Who Will Attend

OEMs

VP / Director / Head of ADAS & Autonomous Systems

Chief Engineer – ADAS, AV or SDV

Head of Software Architecture, Embedded Systems

Director of Simulation & Validation

Safety Leads (SOTIF, Functional Safety, Cyber)

Autonomous Program Managers & Fleet Operations Leads

Tier-1 & Tier-2 Suppliers

ADAS Engineering Directors

Sensor, Compute, Software and Middleware Leads

System Architects & Integration Heads

Validation & Test Methodology Managers

Technology & Platform Companies

AI/ML Leads for Mobility

Cloud, Data, and Simulation Engineering Directors

Digital Twin & Scenario Generation Specialists

Testing & Research Organisations

Proving Ground Leadership

Certification & Regulatory Specialists

Applied Research Engineers (AV, SDV, HMI, Safety)