What’s ahead at the Automotive Wire Harness & EDS Conference 2025?

With more than a decade of experience in Europe and a strategic expansion into North America in 2022, the Automotive Wire Harness & EDS Conference has established itself as the leading industry platform for electrical distribution systems and harness technologies. The U.S. edition has quickly become a must-attend gathering, with the 2024 conference marking the most successful event so far - more than 200 participants, dozens of expert talks, and a vibrant exhibition.

In October 2025, the wire harness community will once again meet in Michigan, to discuss the latest developments in EE architectures, automation, digitalisation, and sustainability. Over two days, attendees will gain insights from 20 industry-leading speakers, connect with peers from nine countries and 75 companies, and engage with a curated line-up of sponsors and exhibitors.

What are the key topics at the Automotive Wire Harness & EDS Conference 2025?

The conference agenda reflects the most urgent priorities shaping the global wire harness and EDS sector:

• Transformation of EE architectures in the SDV era
• Standardisation and interoperability across OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers
• Next-generation connector and terminal technologies
• Digitalisation, automation, and modularisation in wire harness production
• Sustainability, materials innovation, and supply chain resilience

Day 1 - Architectures, Standards, and Automation

The opening day brings a strong focus on vehicle EE architectures, connector systems, and new approaches to automation in harness production.

• Rogerio Vollet, EE architecture director, Stellantis, will outline the transformation of vehicle EE architectures as OEMs push towards software-defined platforms and zonal topologies.
• Christopher Dillon, EWCAP manager, USCAR - U.S. Council for Automotive Research, follows with insights into USCAR’s impact on the automotive industry, highlighting 30 years of collaborative connector and terminal specification development. 
• Christian Infanger, director product group harness assembly, Komax Group, will discuss a paradigm shift in wiring harness production as automation becomes indispensable.
• Jonathan Silvano de Sousa, senior cable technology specialist, and Tobias Kupka, head of cable development, both from GG Group, will address emerging trends and insights in data cables for automotive and commercial vehicles.
• Paul Johnston, portfolio development executive, Siemens Digital Industries Software, explores AI’s transformation of EDS development - who, what, where, when, and why. 
• Evan Dawley, principal product development engineer, TE Connectivity, examines FxC as a mainstream wire harness and the challenges of adoption.
• Christina König, senior manager technology and innovation management, Kostal Kontakt Systeme, presents connectors designed for automated end-of-line testing, with a look at challenges and early concepts.
• Lars Wunderlich, principal application engineer, Vector North America, introduces a holistic approach for efficient and scalable wiring harness development, demonstrating how model-based engineering can streamline workflows. 
• Rob McClelland, director engineering North America, Autokabel, will highlight efficient materials in power distribution, focusing on aluminium and busbars.

Automotive Wire Harness North America

20-21 October 2025 | The Henry Hotel, Dearborn, Michigan

The afternoon closes with a high-level panel discussion on emerging trends in automotive wiring and their industry impact, featuring:

• Joel Pittenger, technical specialist connection systems, Ford
• Khara Pratt, power and signal distribution systems engineer, General Motors
• Mike Mearing, director of engineering component business unit, Yazaki North America
• Christopher Dillon, USCAR

Day 2 - Digitalisation, standardisation, and future energy grids

The second day shifts attention to digitalisation, optical networks, and the evolution of low-voltage energy grid architectures.

• Ali Charara, assistant general manager advanced business development, Sumitomo Wiring Systems, discusses how the LV energy grid architecture of the future will develop.
• Armin Hager, CEO, voitas North America, shares solutions for seamless EDS development in a world of 1,000 changes.
• Thiruvenkata Baskaran, predictive functional leader - structural, Molex, will present creating product digital twins for connector products, linking physical and virtual development.
• Sven Neeser, head of development excellence, Leoni Bordnetze-Systeme, and Douglas A. Burcicki, senior director automotive & heavy equipment, market and business development, Siemens Digital Industries Software, join forces to discuss cooperative digitalisation and standardisation in wire harness engineering.
• A presentation from Yazaki Corporation will highlight the trend of in-vehicle optical networks and standardisation.
• Leopold Pühringer, global manager of research and development, Starlim, examines the effects of wire insulation creep on connector sealing, offering insights into HV connector seal design.

Day 2 concludes with a closing address by Eric Varton, VP of engineering, Yazaki North America, who will also moderate sessions throughout the day.

Sponsors, exhibitors, and supporters

The 2025 edition is supported by leading companies across the wire harness value chain. Sponsors include Leoni, Schunk, Telsonic, Voitas, and Yazaki.

Exhibitors and supporters showcase a wide range of innovations: Amoeba, Aucotec, Avery Dennison, Coroplast, fleXstructures, GG Group, Herrmann Ultrasonics, Kostal, Mambo Technologies, MD Elektronik, Molex, PST Products, Rosenberger, Schleuniger, Starlim, Tesa, Vector, and Wieland - providing attendees with direct access to cutting-edge technologies, solutions, and collaboration opportunities across the entire wiring harness and EDS value chain.

Looking back - and ahead

The 2024 edition of the Automotive Wire Harness & EDS Conference welcomed more than 200 participants and highlighted the industry’s collaborative spirit. With insights from OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and technology innovators, delegates exchanged knowledge, celebrated advancements, and forged new partnerships.

Building on this momentum, the 2025 conference promises to deliver an even richer agenda and more networking opportunities. As the automotive industry navigates disruptive change, the event offers an indispensable platform to learn, connect, and shape the future of wire harness and EDS systems.