Autonomy Summit 26

About the Summit

Where America's AV
Future Is Decided

The premier event for the most influential voices shaping the future of autonomous mobility in the United States.

Participants will hear exclusive insights from top federal and state officials, lawmakers, and executives from leading AV companies. Topics will include:

The urgent need for a federal policy framework for autonomous vehicles
How Texas policymakers are attracting top autonomous vehicle companies to deploy in the state
The intersection of AV deployment and American AI leadership
Why investors are backing autonomous vehicle companies

Gain access to exclusive content, forge powerful partnerships, and contribute to the national dialogue on the future of mobility. The day will conclude with a private networking reception.

Autonomy Summit 25 · Washington, D.C.

Schedule

Day at a Glance

October 6

Welcome Reception sponsored by Lockton

October 7

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Fireside Chat: FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs and Aurora President Ossa Fisher

As Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Derek Barrs leads the agency's mission to enhance commercial motor vehicle safety. Aurora's President Ossa Fisher will interview Administrator Barrs about his priorities at FMCSA.

Zero to IPO: What's Driving Investor Enthusiasm for Autonomy Vehicles

From venture term sheets to opening bells, investor interest in autonomous vehicles is on an upward trajectory. This panel brings together investors who are actively pricing that opportunity, spanning private venture investing, corporate venture capital, and Wall Street equity research, to discuss what's driving their conviction, where they see the biggest risks and opportunities, and how private and public market views on AV companies differ.

Panelists: Manas Punhani, Woven Capital · Brian Ossenbeck, JP Morgan

Fireside Chat: Toby Baker, Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Greg Abbott, and Blake Calvert, Kodiak

Toby Baker serves as a senior advisor to Texas Governor Greg Abbott. He will be interviewed by Kodiak's Blake Calvert about the administration's activity on autonomous vehicles and how Texas has become a national leader on autonomous deployments.

Coffee Networking Break sponsored by Voltera

Fireside Chat: Greg Zerzan, General Counsel, U.S. Department of Transportation, and Chris Nalevanko, Zoox

Greg Zerzan serves as General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Transportation and oversees the more than 400 lawyers who serve the department. He will be interviewed by Chris Nalevanko, the General Counsel of Zoox, about the autonomous vehicle priorities of the Department of Transportation.

Deep in the Heart of Autonomy: the Texas Approach to AV Regulation

Texas has emerged as a global leader in autonomous vehicle deployment, and many cite the state's forward leaning policy and regulatory approach as one of benefits to operating in the state. This discussion will focus on Texas's approach to AV regulation and how it is evolving in the wake of recent legislative efforts. Panelists will also discuss emerging issues in autonomous vehicle regulation as companies deploy and invest in the state.

Moderator: Katie Carmichael, Waabi
Panelists: Clint Thompson, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles · Darran Anderson, Texas Department of Transportation

Fireside Chat: David Liu, Co-founder and CEO, PlusAI, and Andrew Boyle

Building the Workforce of the Autonomous Era

This panel will examine how autonomous vehicle deployment is translating into significant investment and job creation, with a focus on Texas as a leading example. Panelists will discuss the range of roles the industry is generating, from technical and engineering positions to operations, maintenance, and logistics, and how the state's regulatory environment has helped attract AV companies and capital. The conversation will highlight what other states can learn from Texas's approach as the industry continues to scale nationwide.

Moderator: Nick Allen, TaskUs
Panelists: Morgan El-Zeinab, NGV Talent · Sergei Kirillov, Avride

Networking Reception sponsored by Gatik

Speakers