October 27–29, 2026
Vibe Credit Union Showplace, Novi, Michigan, USA

Automotive Design & In-Cabin Content Program 2026

Automotive Design & In-Cabin Expo is a free 3-day, must attend technical conference in the heart of the automotive industry.

As vehicle design accelerates toward 2030, the industry is entering a new era of innovation. From branded exteriors and lighting for V2X safety to sustainable materials and software-defined "smart cockpits," the entire driving experience is being reimagined.

Join leading designers and engineers as they share innovative design ideas, intuitive interiors, lighting innovations while addressing how HMI is looking to shape tomorrow’s consumer-centric cockpits whether for ADAS or L4 vehicles.

 

To access the conference - register for your free expo pass

Automotive Design & In-Cabin Themes 

Exteriors

Meeting end-to-end consumer expectation — what’s winning? 

Sub-topics 

  • Lighting & Windshields 

  • Aerodynamics & brand identity  

  • Materials 

  • Frunk Design and trends 

Interior UX Engineering

From phones to climate controls: providing safe user engagement.

Sub-topics 

  • HMI at the steering wheel 

  • Analog in the digital age 

  • Seating design 

  • Digital cockpit engineering 

Standards, Regulation & System-Level Interoperability

Navigating best practices, aligning the interior ecosystem, enabling safe intelligent vehicles.

Sub-topics 

  • Global regulatory updates  

  • Harmonizing standards 

Why these topics are being addressed

Why these topics are being addressed

 

Vehicle Design and Interiors Conference focuses on two critical pillars that reflect where the industry is moving: 

Designing for multiple powertrains/powertrain  
Vehicle architectures are shifting rapidly based upon consumer expectations towards compute-heavy SDV platforms and powertrains.  OEMs need multifaceted design approaches for EV, Hybrids and ICE. 

Safe HMI Deployment
OEMs are under pressure to create highly specialized cockpit experiences while limiting distracted driving.  The industry needs real-world insights on best practices and applications that meet public trust. 

Vehicle Design & Cabin Track

Vehicle Design & Cabin Track

As vehicles evolve into autonomous-ready experience hubs, cabin and exterior design now sit at the intersection of software, sustainability, and intelligence.

This track explores:

  • Software-defined smart cockpits
  • Interior UX, wellness, and AI integration
  • Digital lighting and V2X communication
  • Sustainable materials and advanced design tools

Designers benefit from direct exposure to validation, intelligence, and propulsion considerations that shape production reality.

Experience. Intelligence. Validation. Under One Roof.

 

The Automotive Design & In-Cabin Content Program 2026 is part of Vehicle Tech Week North America.
Vehicle Technology Week (VTW) brings together the full lifecycle of modern vehicle development as the industry undergoes its architectural transformation toward software-defined, intelligent, and electrified platforms.

VTW unifies three strategic conference tracks – Vehicle Design & Cabin, Intelligent Vehicle and Vehicle Testing into a single, integrated content program designed for engineers, technologists, and decision-makers shaping the road to 2030.

 

How Vehicle Tech Week works

 

One event. One content program. Multiple specialist tracks.

Vehicle Tech Week is structured around three deeply technical conference tracks, each offering the depth of a standalone conference, now enhanced by shared access across the entire VTW ecosystem.

  • Attend sessions within your primary discipline
  • Cross-pollinate ideas across adjacent domains
  • Experience how experience, intelligence, validation, and propulsion systems connect at the vehicle-architecture level

Each track shares a common expo floor, networking programme, and strategic vision, reflecting how vehicles are engineered today.

 

To access the conference - register for your free expo pass

Partners

  • Automotive Interiors World logo

 

  • Specialist Printing Worldwide

 

  • MEMA logo

 

Partner

  • Autotech Council

 

Partner

  • Connected Vehicle Trade Association

 

Partner

  • PAVE USA

 

Partner

  • Women in Automotive Technology

 

Partner

  • Square One Network

 

Partner

  • Autoline

 

Media Partner

  • Automotive World

 

Media partner

  • GlobalSpec

 

Partner

  • Electric & Hybrid Vehicle International

 

Media Partner

  • WWJ - Audacy Detroit

 

Media Partner

  • 97.1 the ticket - Audacy Detroit

 

Interested in becoming a partner or sponsor?

 

Become a Sponsor and unlock unique commercial opportunities. With a diverse audience of industry professionals, thought leaders, and innovators, this is the perfect platform to position your brand and gain unparalleled visibility, credibility, and access to a targeted network of decision-makers. We offer a variety of sponsorship packages to suit your needs, from exclusive title sponsorships to customisable options. Each package is designed to maximise your exposure and impact before, during, and after the event.

Become a sponsor