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Discover What’s Shaping the Software-Defined Vehicle

Our 2026 agenda brings together the topics, technologies and strategic questions defining the next phase of automotive software. 
Expect first-hand insights, practical perspectives and forward-looking discussions spanning AI, software platforms, vehicle architectures and the technologies enabling continuous vehicle innovation.

The Program Is Now Live
– Explore The Agenda Below And Stay Tuned For More To Come. View Agenda

Our Key Discussion Points

  • Architecture for the AI-defined vehicle
  • The evolution and reality of the software-defined vehicle
  • Automotive operating systems, middleware and platform APIs
  • Open source innovation across the automotive software ecosystem
  • Safe and AI-ready software-defined vehicle platforms
  • Rust and agentic coding for safety-critical automotive software
  • Virtual development, digital twins and automated testing
  • AI and agentic engineering for greater development productivity
  • Automotive data usage and data management
  • Cooperation, ecosystems and new business models for the SDV era

What to Expect at ASSC US 2026

Now that the agenda is live, attendees can look forward to two days of expert insights, practical perspectives, and valuable networking opportunities, with more program updates to come.
  • Two days of practical, insightful and inspiring presentations
  • Opportunities for Q&A and exchange with industry experts
  • Access to the exhibition and networking area
  • Networking drinks reception with food on November 3
  • Networking opportunities during coffee and lunch breaks
  • Access to on-demand session recordings after the conference
  • Presentation slides available for download after the event
Print agenda
08:25
5 min

Welcome & Opening of Conference Day 2

5 min
Productivity Through AI
Martin Schleicher Martin Schleicher Independent Consultant & Conference Host
08:30
25 min

Keynote: Agentic AI in Automotive Software (plant floor)

25 min
Productivity Through AI
Apurva S. Meher Ford
08:55
20 min

Beyond Chat: Building the AI Native Automotive Enterprise

20 min
Productivity Through AI
Michael Brown Michael Brown Commercial Lead, Manufacturing,
OpenAI
09:15
20 min

The Automotive Agentic Flywheel

20 min
Productivity Through AI
Stefano Marzani Stefano Marzani Worldwide Leader for Emerging Technologies for Automotive and Manufacturing,
AWS
09:35
25 min

Orchestrating Intelligence: Building the Foundation for Safe Physical AI

25 min
Data Usage and Data Management
Salvador Rodriguez Salvador Rodriguez Head of Product & Portfolio Management,
TrustMotion Austria GmbH
10:00
30 min

Coffee Break & Networking in the Exhibition Area

30 min
10:30
25 min

Engineers Decide, Agents Deliver: Provable Agentic Engineering for Safety-Critical Automotive Software

25 min
Data Usage and Data Management
Clay Nelson Clay Nelson Worldwide Industry Solutions Strategey Lead,
GitHub Max Pabinger Max Pabinger CEO & Founder,
useblocks
10:55
25 min

Beyond the Black Box: How Ensemble AI Agents Diagnose Vehicle Problems like a Room full of Experts

25 min
Data Usage and Data Management
Reinaldo Penno Reinaldo Penno Senior Staff AI Engineer for Agents, AI and ML,
Sonatus
11:20
25 min

SW/Cloud Complexity Reduction and OTA in next-gen SDV Approaches

25 min
Data Usage and Data Management
11:45
1 h 15 min

Networking Lunch in the Exhibition Area

1 h 15 min
13:00
30 min

Panel Discussion on Collaboration and Business Models

30 min
Collaboration and Business Models
Florian Rohde Florian Rohde Independent,
formerly Tesla
13:30
20 min

Open Source ADAS/AD Platform based on Autoware and S-CORE

20 min
Collaboration and Business Models
Christian John Christian John President,
TIER IV North America Inc.
13:50
20 min

Inside the OEM Boardroom: How the World’s Leading Automakers are Approaching the Software-Defined Vehicle

20 min
Collaboration and Business Models

The transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs) is no longer a future vision - it is a present-day operational imperative for every major automotive manufacturer. Yet , significant questions remain: How are OEMs making critical SDV decisions? Which software architectures are emerging as industry standards? What capabilities are they actively seeking from suppliers? And where does the gap between ambition and execution still exist? 

In this session, Prashant Gulati CEO of SDVerse provides a perspective on how the world's leading automakers are navigating the SDV transformation. Drawing on public announcements and statements from General Motors, Ford, Stellantis, and other major OEMs across North America, Europe, and Asia, Prashant shares real-world insights into the priorities, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of automotive software. 

Moving beyond industry theory, this presentation examines how OEM leaders are structuring software architecture strategies, evaluating sourcing decisions, and adapting procurement models to meet the increasing complexity of software-driven vehicle development. 

Prashant Gulati Prashant Gulati CEO,
SDVerse
14:10
20 min

To be announced shortly

20 min
14:30
20 min

To be announced shortly

20 min
14:50
20 min

To be announced shortly

20 min
15:10
10 min

Day 2 Wrap-Up & Closing Remarks

10 min
Martin Schleicher Martin Schleicher Independent Consultant & Conference Host
15:20

Conference Close & Farewell