MOVE 2026: Auto Tech's Titans Tackle Mobility's Billion-Dollar Future

LONDON, UK – May 20, 2026 – The global mobility ecosystem is preparing to converge on London in four weeks for MOVE 2026, the eighth annual summit that has firmly established itself as the world's premier auto tech event. From June 17th to 18th at the ExCeL London, the industry's most influential leaders—from automotive giants and fleet operators to energy providers and tech disruptors—will gather to debate, showcase, and define the future of transportation.

This year's event promises to be a critical inflection point for the industry, headlined by two of its most dynamic figures: Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe and Wayve CEO Alex Kendall. Their presence underscores the central themes of the conference: the mass-market acceleration of electric vehicles and the AI-driven revolution in autonomous driving. With over 250 speakers across 15 specialized stages, MOVE 2026 is poised to move beyond conceptual hype and delve into the business, technology, and policy shaping how the world moves.

The Billion-Dollar Drive: Titans of Tech Converge

The commercial stakes of the mobility transition will be front and center. RJ Scaringe takes the stage at a pivotal moment for Rivian. The EV manufacturer recently unveiled its highly anticipated R2 SUV, a smaller, more affordable model designed to crack the European market and propel the brand into the mainstream. With production slated to begin in mid-2026, Scaringe's keynote is expected to offer crucial insights into Rivian's strategy for scaling production, navigating supply chains, and achieving profitability—a session billed as a look into how his company “made the impossible possible.”

Joining him is Alex Kendall, CEO of London's own AI success story, Wayve. Fresh from a staggering $1.5 billion Series D funding round that valued the company at $8.6 billion, Wayve has captured the industry's attention. Backed by titans like Microsoft, Nvidia, and Uber, the startup is pioneering an AI-first approach to autonomous driving. Instead of relying on costly, pre-programmed high-definition maps, Wayve’s software learns to drive like a human, allowing it to adapt to new cities and driving conditions rapidly. Kendall is expected to discuss this game-changing business model, which focuses on licensing its adaptable AI driver to automakers and robotaxi fleets, with commercial trials with Uber set to launch in London this year.

The star power extends deep into the agenda. The speaker list reads like a who's who of global mobility, including executives from legacy automakers like Honda, Toyota, Scania, and Mahindra, alongside technology leaders from Waymo, Pony.ai, and Lyft. This convergence of incumbents and innovators highlights the cross-sector collaboration required to build the next generation of transportation.

Electric Dreams and Software Realities

Beyond the headline acts, MOVE 2026 will provide a crucial reality check on the industry's most significant trends. While global EV sales surpassed 20 million units in 2025, the conversation has matured from pure growth to sustainable execution. Sessions will tackle the persistent challenges of building out a reliable and accessible charging infrastructure, overcoming consumer range anxiety, and navigating the precarious supply chains for critical materials like rare earth metals and semiconductors. The focus is shifting toward next-generation innovations like solid-state batteries and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, which promise to enhance performance and integrate EVs into a smarter energy ecosystem.

Simultaneously, the era of the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) is facing its own moment of truth. After years of ambitious promises, 2026 is seen as the year of pragmatic execution. The industry is coalescing around hybrid zonal-central vehicle architectures, a cost-effective approach to centralizing computing power. AI is becoming an indispensable tool, not just for the in-car experience but also for accelerating software development, testing, and validation. With the SDV market projected to hit $360 billion this year, discussions will center on ensuring real-time integration, fortifying cybersecurity, and establishing the standards needed for a connected, updatable fleet.

Navigating the Roadblocks to an Autonomous Future

While 2026 is hailed as a turning point for autonomous vehicles, with robotaxi services like Waymo and Zoox expanding into new markets, the path to widespread adoption is fraught with challenges. MOVE 2026 will serve as a vital forum for addressing these roadblocks head-on. The most significant barrier remains public trust, which is still fragile following incidents involving driver-assistance systems and a general apprehension about ceding control to an algorithm.

Discussions will inevitably turn to the complex web of regulatory hurdles and ethical dilemmas. As AVs become more capable, the industry and policymakers must grapple with critical questions: Who is liable in an accident? How can we prevent algorithmic bias in AI decision-making? How can the vast amounts of data collected by vehicles be protected? The pace of AV deployment is now determined as much by policy and public acceptance as it is by technological breakthroughs. Leaders from Waymo, Pony.ai, and government affairs will share the stage to debate the frameworks needed to ensure a safe and equitable rollout.

More Than a Conference: A Festival of Innovation

True to its name, MOVE is an event in motion. The ExCeL will be transformed into a festival of innovation, where ideas discussed on stage are brought to life on the exhibition floor. Over 75 exhibitors and more than 75 cutting-edge start-ups will showcase their latest work through live product demos and interactive displays. The high-stakes start-up pitch competition will offer a glimpse into the next wave of disruptive mobility companies vying for attention and investment.

With over 2,000 attendees, the event is engineered to foster the connections that drive the industry forward. It is a premier networking hub where partnerships are forged and deals are made, culminating in the famous MOVE Groove after-party to close out the first day. As the world's mobility leaders prepare to descend on London, MOVE 2026 stands as more than just a conference; it is the definitive commercial and intellectual forum where the future of how we live, work, and travel is being actively reimagined and built.