CAR IT Symposium 2026: AI Reinvents Automotive

Development approaches for accelerating SDVs and autonomous driving

2026/06/03

Summary
Connected Digital Vehicle – Shaping the Future of Mobility (BMW)
Large Industry Models: Accelerating the Shift to Software-Defined and Autonomous Mobility (Dassault Systèmes)
AI-Enhanced User Experience (Pioneer Corporation)

Summary

The CAR IT Symposium 2026, organized by CAR – Center Automotive Research, Duisburg, and co-hosted by VAIVA, took place in Ingolstadt, Germany, from March 26 to 27, 2026. Under the theme “From Buzzword to Imperative: AI Reinvents Automotive,” the event focused on how Artificial Intelligence is evolving from a future concept into a concrete driver of industrial value creation across the automotive industry — reshaping vehicle development, software architecture, data platforms, as well as sales and aftersales, while opening up new business models. Bringing together leading executives and industry presenters from OEMs, suppliers, and technology partners — including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Renault, Ford, Stellantis, CARIAD, Bosch, IBM, Microsoft, Accenture, Qualcomm, Red Hat, HERE Technologies, and many others — the symposium served as a valuable platform for knowledge sharing, discussion, and networking among professionals shaping the future of mobility.

This report summarizes three presentations delivered at the symposium — by BMW, Dassault Systèmes, and Pioneer Corporation — and provides insights and development approaches shared by the experts on advancing AI-driven transformation and the next stage of the Software-Defined Vehicle. On-site interviews conducted with Dr. Laurent-Winter (BMW), Ms. Reif (Stellantis), and Ms. Beatrix Keim, Director of CAR – Center Automotive Research, have been published separately.


Maritim Hotel Conference Hall in Ingolstadt (CAR IT Symposium 2026 organized by CAR – Center Automotive Research, Duisburg (D+S Automotive GmbH) (photos: Copyright © MarkLines Co., Ltd. All rights reserved)

BMW — Dr. Céline Laurent-Winter (Vice President of Connected Vehicle Platforms):
"Connected Digital Vehicle – Shaping the Future of Mobility"
Dassault Systèmes — Dr.-Ing. Bassem Hassan (Senior Director, Core Industries):
"Large Industry Models: Accelerating the Shift to Software-Defined and Autonomous Mobility"
Pioneer Corporation — Werner Koestler (Executive Officer, Europe and Americas Automotive Electronics Division):
"AI-Enhanced User Experience"

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