The Mobility + AI Conference 2026
will be held on 14 and 15 April 2026 at the Mobility Innovation Campus
Ottobrunn, in cooperation with the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
Bringing together experts from industry, regulation, technical services,
insurance and research, the event addresses one of the central challenges of
intelligent mobility: how AI-driven systems can be developed, validated,
approved and deployed responsibly at scale.
At its core are eight closely connected themes spanning automated driving functions from L2+ to L4, robotaxis and
autonomous mobility, autonomous logistics systems, validation and
testing of AI, functional safety and cybersecurity, regulatory
and liability frameworks, human–machine
interaction, and the software-defined vehicle as
the architectural foundation of future mobility. Rather than treating
these topics in isolation, the conference frames them as elements of an
integrated socio-technical system in which technology, regulation and
operational reality must evolve together.
From AI-driven automation to
regulation-ready mobility
Mobility + AI 2026 structures its programme around the
growing realisation that autonomy is no longer defined by technical capability
alone. Automated driving functions from L2+ to L4 remain a central pillar, but
the focus has shifted towards real-world operation: how AI behaves under
uncertainty, how redundancy concepts are implemented, and how data from
deployed vehicles feeds back into development and validation.
Robotaxis and autonomous mobility
represent the most complex expression of these challenges. While pilot projects
have demonstrated feasibility, scalability depends on operating models,
infrastructure readiness and regulatory alignment. In contrast, autonomous
logistics systems for factories, ports and airports illustrate how AI-driven mobility is already delivering value today,
particularly in controlled or semi-controlled environments.
Validation, testing and digital twins form the backbone of
trustworthy AI systems. Scenario-based testing,
simulation and reproducible evidence are discussed alongside functional safety and cybersecurity, underlining that
safe-by-design and security-by-design principles are becoming mandatory.
Regulation, homologation and liability provide the institutional framework for
deployment, while human–machine interaction and AI design address trust and
acceptance as success factors. Underpinning all these themes is the software-defined vehicle, enabling data-driven development,
OTA updates and continuous improvement across the lifecycle.
Regulatory and approval perspectives
A strong regulatory focus underscores the positioning of
Mobility + AI 2026. Richard Damm, President of Germany’s Federal Motor
Transport Authority (KBA) and Chairman of the UNECE Working Group GRVA on
automated, autonomous and connected vehicles, outlines new regulatory
requirements for automated vehicles and driver assistance systems. His
contribution reflects the tension between global markets and region-specific regulatory cultures.
This is complemented by Thomas
Quernheim, Senior Vice President Engineering & Homologation Automotive at
TÜV Rheinland Group. Drawing on extensive approval experience, he
examines how AI assurance, structured validation and audit-ready evidence are
becoming prerequisites for progressing from L3 systems to robotaxis in Europe.
Risk and insurance considerations add another layer. Dr
Christian Sahr, Managing Director of the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT),
discusses how trust, risk and insurance models shape the transition from L4
vision to operational reality, influencing both deployment strategies and
system design.
Scaling autonomous mobility responsibly
Mobility + AI Conference 2026 – Key Facts
When and where does the Mobility + AI Conference take
place?
The Mobility + AI Conference 2026 will be held on 14–15
April 2026 at the Mobility Innovation Campus in Ottobrunn, near
Munich, Germany. The venue combines research facilities, industrial
infrastructure and real-world test environments, including a test field and an
autonomous parking facility for realistic validation scenarios.
What is the objective of the conference?
The conference aims to establish trustworthy, certifiable
and scalable AI-driven mobility systems. It brings together technology
development, safety assurance, regulatory frameworks and operational deployment
to address how automated and autonomous mobility can be introduced responsibly
and at scale in real-world environments.
Which formats does Mobility + AI offer?
The two-day programme combines keynotes, expert panels
and in-depth presentations with interactive Q&A sessions, structured
networking breaks and live demonstrations. On-site demonstrations
include autonomous vehicles, automated parking solutions and validation
scenarios conducted in real-world test environments.
What is the thematic focus of the conference?
Mobility + AI 2026 focuses on the intersection of technology,
safety and regulation. Key topics include automated driving functions from
L2+ to L4, robotaxis and autonomous mobility, autonomous logistics systems, AI
validation and testing, functional safety and cybersecurity, regulatory and
liability frameworks, human–machine interaction, and software-defined vehicle
architectures.
Who should attend the conference?
The conference is aimed at professionals shaping the future
of intelligent mobility, including executives and technical leaders from
OEMs and suppliers, experts in AI validation, testing and functional
safety, regulators and certification bodies, insurers and legal
professionals, as well as researchers, engineers and technology
providers involved in AI-driven mobility systems.
From the viewpoint of autonomous mobility providers, Dr René
S. Hosse, Head of Regulatory, Safety and Security at Volkswagen
Autonomous Mobility GmbH / Moia, discusses how safety, security and AI
interact in shared mobility services. His perspective focuses on scaling trust
across fleets, users and cities.
Jeremy McClain, Global Vice President and Head of Systems
& Software Business for Autonomous Mobility at Aumovio, places these issues
in a broader industrial context. He highlights that autonomy at scale depends
on the alignment of safety, regulation and viable business models.
A complementary perspective is provided by Alexander Kraus,
CEO of AVL Deutschland GmbH, who addresses software-defined mobility through
the lens of approval and certification. He argues that Europe’s complex type
approval landscape can become a competitive advantage if software
architectures, validation strategies and regulatory requirements are considered
together from the outset.
Validation, testing and confidence by design
Validation is a recurring theme throughout the programme. Scenario-based testing, simulation frameworks and
digital twins are discussed as essential tools for managing complexity in
AI-driven systems. Wolfgang Jansen, Senior Vice President and Head of Division
Tests & Analyses at IABG, anchors this discussion in real-world testing
environments, linking test infrastructure, inductive charging and safeAI
concepts.
A design-oriented perspective is added by Avinash Nehemiah,
Head of Product Management and Marketing – Design Automation at MathWorks. He
explains how confidence in AI-driven engineered systems can be built through
design automation and integrated toolchains, reinforcing the idea that trust
must be engineered from the outset.
Autonomous mobility and logistics
Urban autonomous mobility remains a focal point. Dr Stephane
Dreher, Senior Manager Innovation & Deployment CCAM at ERTICO ITS Europe,
examines how robotaxis and autonomous mobility can be
translated into scalable urban solutions, focusing on ecosystem
coordination and infrastructure readiness.
Remote operation is addressed by Athanassios Lagospiris,
Vice President of Engineering at Vay, who links remote driving, AI and global
deployment strategies as enablers for operational robustness.
Automated valet parking emerges as a
near-term application. Joachim Mathes, Chief Technology Officer of
Valeo’s BRAIN Division, discusses launching Level 4 parking functions at scale,
while Jingfang Jiang, President of iMotion Automotive Technology Suzhou Co.
Ltd., traces the path of Automated Valet Parking from concept to product.
Autonomous logistics is presented as a pragmatic scaling
pathway. Dr Frederick Zohm, Executive Board Member for Research &
Development at MAN Truck & Bus SE, positions truck
automation as one of the fastest routes to scale. Alexander Domahidi,
Co-Founder and CTO of Embotech, extends this to factories, ports and airports,
where AI-driven systems already optimise material flows and safety.
Human factors and legal developments
Trust ultimately depends on human factors. Dr Michael Oehl,
Head of the Human–Machine Interaction Research Group at the German Aerospace
Center (DLR), addresses HMI challenges in the context of remote operation and
safe handover processes.
From an industrial policy perspective, Ernst Stoeckl-Pukall,
Head of Division for Digitalisation and Industry 4.0 at Germany’s Federal
Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), discusses how IPCEI AI
initiatives and open ecosystems can strengthen Europe’s competitive position.
Legal developments are analysed by Oliver Belitz and Dr Nils
Lölfing, IT lawyers at Bird & Bird, who examine the implications of the AI
Act for the automotive sector and the emerging role of agentic AI.
Ecosystem collaboration is further explored by Michael
Plagge, Vice President Ecosystem Development at the Eclipse Foundation, who
highlights how open-source approaches can support sustainable automotive
software ecosystems.
Networking, panels and cross-domain exchange
Beyond individual presentations, Mobility + AI 2026
emphasises dialogue and cross-domain exchange. Panels, Q&A sessions and
structured networking breaks connect regulators, OEMs, suppliers, insurers,
legal experts and technology providers. A central panel discusses how Europe
can transition from isolated AI use cases to automated driving, complemented by
live demonstrations on the test field and in the autonomous parking facility.
Expertise across regulation, technology and deployment
The Mobility + AI Conference 2026 is guided by an Advisory
Board that brings together recognised experts from standardisation, regulation,
industry, research and validation. Their combined expertise ensures that the
conference programme reflects both technological depth and real-world
relevance:
- Dr. Hermann Brand, European Standards Affairs Director, IEEE Technology Centre GmbH
- Dr. Stéphane Dreher, Head of CCAM / Innovation & Deployment, ERTICO
- Dr. Daniel Fulger, Global Director AI Automotive, Engineering & Homologation, TÜV Rheinland Group
- Prof. Dr. Gunnar Gräfe, Owner, Jucla Consult (Founder, 3D Mapping Solutions)
- Andreas Herzig, Global Lead Automotive for Risk, Regulations & Technology, Deloitte
- Dr. Nils Katzorke, Proving Ground Development, Mercedes-Benz AG
- Dr. Andrea Leitner, Global Business Segment Manager, AVL
- Dr. Martin Margreiter, Head of Mobility Innovation Campus, Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH (IABG)
- Prof. Robert Shorten, Head of School, Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London
- Prof. Dr. Joachim Taiber, Managing Director International Operations, IAMTS
- Thomas Quernheim, Senior Vice President Mobility / Engineering & Homologation Automotive, TÜV Rheinland Group
