Conference Description
Key Takeaways
- Explores the convergence of software-defined vehicle architectures and autonomous driving capabilities
- Addresses commercialisation, scalability and safe deployment of Level 3, 4 and 5 autonomous systems
- Examines AI integration, system redundancy, liability frameworks and monetisation strategies
- Designed for OEM executives, Tier-1 suppliers, robotics firms, AI companies and technology startups
- Features dual technical tracks covering SDV and AV development alongside main-stage presentations
Introduction
The SDV & AV Technology Summit 2026, organised by Automotive IQ, brings together automotive and technology professionals to examine the increasingly intertwined disciplines of software-defined vehicles and autonomous driving. Taking place in Silicon Valley at the Santa Clara Marriott, the summit targets engineers, executives and strategists working to move these technologies from development into commercial deployment. The timing reflects an industry inflection point where AI capabilities have accelerated the merger of SDV architectures with autonomous vehicle systems, creating both technical opportunities and complex integration challenges that demand cross-functional expertise.
About This Event
The summit operates across two focused technical tracks—one dedicated to software-defined vehicles and another to autonomous vehicle development—supplemented by main-stage presentations and collaborative dialogue sessions. This structure enables attendees to pursue depth in their primary domain while gaining exposure to adjacent developments that increasingly influence their work. The programme emphasises practical knowledge transfer between automotive manufacturers and technology companies, recognising that successful SDV and AV deployment requires capabilities that span traditional industry boundaries.
The Interdependence of SDV Architectures and Autonomous Capabilities
A central premise of the summit is that scalable autonomy cannot be achieved without robust software-defined infrastructures. Traditional vehicle architectures, built around discrete electronic control units with fixed functionality, lack the computational flexibility and update mechanisms that autonomous systems require. Software-defined vehicles provide the foundation—centralised compute platforms, standardised interfaces and over-the-air update capabilities—upon which autonomous features can be deployed, refined and expanded throughout a vehicle’s operational life.
This architectural shift carries significant implications for how manufacturers approach vehicle development. The ability to separate software development cycles from hardware production timelines enables faster iteration on autonomous capabilities, but also introduces new challenges around system integration, validation and long-term software maintenance. The summit examines how organisations are restructuring their development processes to accommodate these realities.
Technical and Commercial Discussion Areas
The programme addresses the full spectrum from technical implementation to business model development. On the engineering side, sessions cover AI integration methodologies, system redundancy requirements for safety-critical functions, cloud-based development and deployment workflows, and the role of open-source software in accelerating development. Human factors research also features prominently, particularly regarding the transition between automated and manual control in Level 3 systems where drivers must remain available to resume control.
Commercial topics include strategies for monetising software-defined vehicle capabilities, partnership structures between OEMs and technology providers, and approaches to productionising autonomous systems at scale. The summit also addresses liability frameworks and regulatory compliance—areas where legal and technical considerations intersect and where industry consensus remains incomplete.
Industry Context
The automotive industry’s transition toward software-defined architectures represents one of the most significant structural changes in its history. Vehicles that once differentiated primarily on mechanical attributes now compete increasingly on software capabilities, user experience and the pace of feature development. This shift has drawn technology companies into automotive supply chains while pushing traditional manufacturers to develop software competencies that were previously outside their core expertise.
Autonomous vehicle development has followed a parallel trajectory, with initial optimism about rapid deployment giving way to more measured timelines as the complexity of edge cases and safety validation became clearer. The current focus on Level 3 and Level 4 systems in defined operational domains reflects a pragmatic approach to commercialisation, though the path to broader Level 5 autonomy remains an active area of research and investment.
Who Should Attend
The summit is structured for decision-makers and technical leaders involved in SDV and AV development. This includes C-level executives and directors responsible for product strategy, engineers working on vehicle software architectures and autonomous systems, and business development professionals managing partnerships between automotive and technology organisations. Representatives from OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, robotics companies, AI specialists and technology startups comprise the primary audience, with content calibrated for professionals who possess existing domain knowledge and seek to deepen their understanding of current developments and emerging approaches.
Ecosystem Participation
The event draws participation from organisations across the SDV and AV ecosystem. Partners and sponsors include Corellium, Vayavya Labs, Parasoft, COVESA, Eclipse Foundation and SDVerse, representing capabilities spanning virtualisation, embedded software development, testing tools and industry standards development. This cross-section of the supply chain enables discussions that address interoperability challenges and collaborative approaches to common technical problems.