As autonomous vehicle technology reaches maturation, the most urgent challenges are no longer just technical—they are civic and systemic. 

The 2026 Autonomous Vehicles and the City Symposium marks our 10th anniversary, and goes “Beyond the Tech” to focus on building a robust automation ecosystem that works for people and cities alike. From AI perception and roadway safety to manufacturing friction, regulatory clarity, curb and edge management, and seamless integration with public transit, this year’s convening examines how automation can reduce collisions, advance Vision Zero goals, and expand mobility choice. 

Featuring leading policymakers, regulators, OEMs, researchers, and innovators—and a joint USF–UC Berkeley PATH Demo Day—this two-day event tackles what it truly takes to move automation from breakthrough technology to sustainable urban system.

Agenda

12–1 p.m.
Coffee & Networking

1–1:20 p.m.
Welcome & Opening Remarks 

• The Honorable Scott Wiener, California State Senator

1:20–1:45 p.m.
Keynote Address

• The Honorable Adetokunbo "Toks" Omishakin, Secretary of Transportation, State of California

1:45–2:30 p.m.
Dialogue: Regulation & Responsible Deployment

• Alex Kendall, CEO, Wayve
• Miguel Acosta, Chief, Autonomous Vehicles Branch, CA DMV
• Mayor Matt Mahan, City of San José (invited)
• Moderator, Rya Jetha, San Francisco Standard

2:30–3 p.m.
Fireside Chat: Human perception, AI integration, and system design
UCLA Center of Excellence on New Mobility & ULTIMO EU Project

• Jiaqi Ma, Professor, UCLA, Director, UCLA CoE New Mobility
• Prof. Dr. Guy Fournier, Professor, Pforzheim University; Scientific Director, ULITMO

3–3:45 p.m.
Dialogue: OEM Innovation & Scaling Challenges

• Katrin Lohmann, President, MOIA / Volkswagen, ADMT
• Maarten Sierhuis, Vice President at Nissan Advanced Technology Center-Silicon Valley, Nissan of North America
• TBD, Tensor
• James Fishelson / Martha Gonzalez, UC Berkeley PATH

3:45–4:15 p.m.
Closing Fireside Chat

• Tekedra Mawakana, CEO, Waymo (invited)

4:15–4:30 p.m.
Closing Reflections: Building the Next Decade of Automation

• Dr. Henriette Cornet, Co-Director, University of San Francisco Autonomous Vehicles & the City Innovative and CEO, Urban Innovate
• Dr. Michael Goldman, Associate Dean and Professor, University of San Francisco

About Autonomous Vehicles & the City

For the past decade, the University of San Francisco’s Autonomous Vehicles and the City Initiative has partnered with Commonwealth Club World Affairs to host an independent, cross-sector event that brings together voices that rarely share the same stage—city and state transportation leaders, scholars, startup founders, global OEMs, infrastructure operators, advocates and investors.

Today, the symposium convenes more than 250 participants in person, with more than 2,000 virtual attendees each year. These conversations regularly reach decision-makers worldwide, and our recordings are among the most viewed transportation policy archives in the country. Over this decade we have become a trusted bridge between research, industry, and public policy. Our lab has:

• Hosted state, national and global delegations, including a recent event focused on strengthening international partnerships and trade with Princess Astrid of Belgium during her economic mission to California
• Conducted research with automated driving companies, including Waymo and Cruise
• Worked with OEM leaders such as GM, BMW, Volvo and Audi
• Served on, contributed to, and advised EU-funded CCAM and smart mobility projects
• Published reports, tools and academic research with hundreds of thousands of downloads globally
• Delivered consulting and technical advisory support to governments, NGOs and technology companies around the world

This unique positioning enables honest dialogue and real-world collaboration. Participants regularly tell us that this symposium helps them break silos, generate new partnerships, and implement solutions that benefit people and cities.