Conference

International VDI Conference - Autonomous Trucks

Course number: 01KO915

Hear international expert presentations on the latest technological developments in autonomous trucks.
Find out about new business models and use cases for logistics.
Learn how to master the next steps on the road to autonomous driving.

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The 9th international VDI conference "Autonomous Truck" will take place on April 29-30, 2026, in Munich, Germany.

Autonomous driving in the commercial vehicle sector is no longer a distant vision – pilot projects, near-series developments, and first commercial applications clearly show: the transformation is underway.

At the 9th International VDI Conference "Autonomous Trucks", leading experts will discuss the latest technological, regulatory, and operational developments in the field of autonomous trucking.

The focus will be on recent advances in autonomous driving, software-defined vehicle architectures, sensor technology, data management, and scalable operational solutions. We will also explore the impact on business models, value chains, and logistics processes – from long-haul transport to last-mile delivery.

The conference will once again take place in parallel with the Connected Off-Highway Machines and Smart Farming conferences in 2026.

If you have any questions about the conference program or would like to attend the conference as a speaker, please contact Antje Elbers.

Advantages

Hear international expert presentations on the latest technological developments in autonomous trucks.
Find out about new business models and use cases for logistics.
Learn how to master the next steps on the road to autonomous driving.
Meet leading international experts and numerous truck manufacturers and suppliers.

Program

8:30	Registration & welcome coffee
9:30	Chair’s welcome and opening address
9:45	Autonomous Commercial Vehicles @ Daimler Truck It takes two to tango: The truck and its driver State and outlook of autonomous trucking at Daimler Truck The ecosystem of autonomous driving for commercial vehicles Dustin White, Head of Strategy Autonomous Driving, Daimler Truck, Germany
10:15	Developing an Autonomous Truck Platform: From Engineering Readiness to Industrial Scale From prototype validation to a scalable, repeatable industrial platform Standardized vehicle architecture and modular interfaces enabling integration with multiple autonomy stack partners Manufacturing discipline, production-intent builds, and feedback loops from field operations to engineering Aligning safety, reliability, and fleet readiness for hub-to-hub deployment Platform thinking for scaling safe, driverless freight corridors Shahrukh Kazmi, Chief Product Officer, Volvo Autonomous Solutions, Sweden
10:45	Networking & coffee break
	I. AI, Data & Simulation as the Backbone of Autonomous Trucks
11:30	From ChatGPT to Generative World Models for Autonomous Driving (AD) Data helps AI models identify and extract meaningful features from input data Data for AI model training must be high performance, flexible, and scalable Quality and depth of training data significantly impact the success of AI models Frank Kraemer, IBM Technology Systems Architect, Germany
12:00	Scalability and Limitations of Simulation-Based Validation Strategies for Autonomous Commercial Vehicles Comparison of open-loop, AI-generated and simulation-based testing Challenges of simulation-based validation regarding fidelity and availability Scalable and credible simulation workflows with cloud-based testing Dr. Sami Bilgic Istoc, Senior Consultant, IPG Automotive GmbH, Germany
12:30	Lunch
	II. Building the Autonomous Trucking Ecosystem
14:00	Turning Innovation into Impact: How Industry Ecosystems Leverage Driverless Trucks Learn how autonomous trucking lowers costs, mitigates driver shortages, and boosts long‑haul safety Find out how the partnership between AUMOVIO and Aurora enables scalable autonomous truck deployment Discover how a mileage‑based hardware‑as‑a‑service model maximizes uptime and customer value Ralph Grewe, Chief Engineer, Aurora Program, AUMOVIO, Germany
14:30	Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV): Leadership Problem or Execution Dilemma? Analysis of the state of the industry SDV as most discussed yet least fully realized transformation Deep Dive into the current state of the SDV transformation supported by case studies from both the passenger car and trucking sectors Highlighting concrete strategic actions OEMs can take to adapt legacy structures with software-centric cultures and leverage partnerships to accelerate progress Insights about SDV monetization pathways Michael Herdrich, Consultant ADAS/AD & SDV, P3 Consulting GmbH, Germany
	III. Sensor Technology & Sensor Fusion for Real-World Autonomy
15:00	Controlling the Uncontrollable – Perception and Control for Unequipped Semitrailers in Automated Terminals and Yards A novel sensor setup for automated handling of unequipped semitrailers Advanced control algorithms for precise backward maneuvering Real-world use-cases with fast Return of Investment Cross-OEM interoperability Opportunities for funding and collaboration Dr.-Ing. Felix Keppler, Research Group Manager, Fraunhofer IVI, Germany
15:30	Networking & coffee break
16:15	LiDAR Testing in Adverse Conditions LiDAR Sensors Performance Evaluation on Point Cloud Level DIN SAE SPEC 91571 - new industry standard Adverse Conditions – weather, dirt/dust, interference Prof. Dr.-Ing. Adrian Zlocki, Head of Automated Driving Department, Co-author: Amogh Sakpal M.Sc., both: fka GmbH, Germany
16:45	Fireside Chat - The joint L4 Program of TRATON & PLUSAI Astrid Hagqvist, Product Manager Autonomy for On Road, TRATON, Sweden & Dr. Georg Kuschk, Director of Autonomy, PlusAI, Germany Moderation: Gerhard Nowak, ifp consulting, Germany
17:15	End of conference day one
18:00	Get-together At the end of the first conference day, we kindly invite you to use the relaxed and informal atmosphere at our conference dinner for indepth conversations with other participants and speakers.

9:00	Opening Remarks Day Two
9:10	Panel Discussion Panelist: Dominik Schindler, Head of Innovation, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics Rickard Legnestam, Commercial Program Manager, Hub-to-Hub at Volvo Autonomous Solutions Dustin White, Head of Strategy Autonomous Driving, Daimler Truck
10:00	Networking & coffee break
	IV. Commercial Deployment & Industrial Scale
10:45	Real-World Driverless Truck Deployment: Learnings from launching to scaling 24/7 customer deployments Overview of Kodiak‘s Commercial Deployment with Atlas Energy Solutions How to move from operations with a safety driver to no human in the cab Learnings from deploying a customer-centric solution and what it takes: Technology, Safety, Product Andreas Wendel, CTO, Kodiak AI, USA
11:15	Real-World Learnings on the Road to Factory-Built Autonomous Trucking Important learnings and feedback from customer fleet trials and how they help shape product development, refine safety validation, and guide the roadmap toward commercial launch Why deep partnerships between tech developers and OEMs are key to large scale commercialization Practical considerations for seamless integration into logistics networks Dr. Georg Kuschk, Director of R&D, PlusAI, Germany
11:45	Explainable Compliance in Autonomous Driving – Turning Traffic Legislation into an Operational Asset Ke Zhu, Senior Manager Technology & AI, HELLA Ignite GmbH, Berlin
12:15	Lunch
	V. Operating Autonomous Fleets at Scale
13:45	Autonomous Fleets at Scale: Mastering 24/7 Operations with Real-Time FMS Operational Excellence: Strategies for maximizing fleet efficiency Practical methods for handling exceptions and providing Remote Assistance to ensure vehicles stay productive 24/7 Insights from successful projects, architecture & lessons learned Akshay Singh, Principal Product Manager Autonomous Trucks, Embotech AG, Switzerland
14:15	Real-World Data: The Critical Path to L4 Autonomous Trucks Real-world data as the foundation for scalable L4 autonomous trucking Inceptio’s data assets built through large-scale deployment and real-world operation Inceptio’s roadmap and current progress in L4 truck development Zhizhuo Jin, Senior Staff Software Engineer, Inceptio Technology, Shanghai, China
14:45	Data Loop for AI development in safety-critical applications according to ISO/PAS 8800 Overview of Big Data Loop and its elements Standard Landscape for AI and safety and placement of “ISO/PAS 8800 – Safety and AI” MLOps pipelines as a key success factor for regular assurance case argumentation The triad of standard, process, and technology for safe AI Andreas Bossert, Engineering methods and processes, Senior Expert Engineer, ITK engineering GmbH, Germany
15:15	Closing Remarks
15:30	End of conference

Program PDF ( PDF, 487 KB)

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Target Group

The 8th international VDI conference "Autonomous Trucks" is aimed at specialists, managers and decision-makers from the following areas:

Truck manufacturers
Suppliers (braking systems, sensors, environment recognition, software, etc.)
IT companies in the automotive sector
Logistics companies
Start-ups with a focus on autonomous trucks
Research institutions with a focus on autonomous trucks and vehicles

Supporting Experts

Lars Stenqvist, Volvo Group, Sweden
Timothy Carter, Heidelberg Materials, Germany
Michael Wiesinger, Kodiak AI, USA
Gerhard Nowak, ifp consulting, Germany
Lauren Kwan, PlusAI, USA

Our Supporting Experts support the conference with their experience and expertise, ensuring an up-to-date and comprehensive agenda.

Exhibitors

dSPACE Group SE & Co. KG
ICT Group
MobileTronics GmbH

Fraunhofer IVI
Inter Control Hermann Köhler
Visage Technologies d.o.o.

Exhibitor packages with complementary ticket, net stand space and company entry in the exhibitor directory (print and online) can still be booked. Reserve one of the limited stand spaces in the specialist exhibition. Or become a sponsor for a comprehensive presence before and during the event.

Become an exhibitor or sponsor!

Inform now

The English-language 9th VDI Conference "Autonomous Trucks" offers you a unique platform for exchanging experiences with international experts. At the conference, top-class speakers from OEMs, suppliers, research institutes and users will present the latest ideas for autonomous trucks in expert lectures. This will give you a comprehensive overview of global developments and the resulting opportunities in the field of autonomous driving trucks.

Book now

Would you like to receive comprehensive information about the many opportunities and challenges in the field of autonomous trucks? Would you like to exchange ideas with renowned experts on new business models and innovative applications? Then secure your place now at the 9th International VDI Conference "Autonomous Trucks".