Event preview: Cenex Expo 2025 – where self-driving and net zero meet
With less than three weeks to go until the UK’s leading transport innovation event, Cenex Expo 2025, the full seminar programme has now been confirmed, including a steller line-up of self-driving experts and exhibitors.
Running across Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th September at the UTAC Millbrook testing facility in Bedfordshire, this year’s event sets out to explore “The technologies, strategies and legislation shaping the UK’s transition to Net Zero and Connected Automated Mobility (CAM)” – not just ideas, but solid plans for real-world change.
With big-name exhibitors including Alexander Dennis, Aurrigo, Bosch, Ford and Nissan, it promises to be as action-packed as last year.
Ministerial keynote
The curtain-raiser will be a keynote address by the Rt Hon. Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Supported by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC), the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), and Zenzic, debates and presentations in six theatres will provide insights into the breakthroughs and bottlenecks influencing policy, investment and innovation.
Noting that it is now ten years since the Paris Agreement on climate change, Robert Evans, CEO of Cenex, said: “This year’s event provides the first large scale industry event for the Net Zero and Connected Automated Mobility innovation community to meet following the launch of the UK’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector plan and the new Drive 35 programme for automotive innovation and manufacturing supply chain development.”
Drive 35 commits £2 billion in capital and R&D funding through to 2030, with an additional £500 million extending support to 2035. The programme aims to accelerate the development and commercial scale-up of strategic vehicle technologies, strengthening domestic supply chains and supporting a globally competitive battery sector.
Focus on self-driving
Specifically on self-driving, Evans continued: “Collaboration, as ever, will be the conduit to move from ideas to commercialisation. The AV Act paves the way for the UK market for CAM to flourish, but there are still details to be worked through regarding the secondary legislation needed to detail the authorisation of automated vehicles, operator licensing and in-use regulations.
“Driverless technologies have applications well beyond the road – in agriculture, defence, marine and more. The CAM supply chain gathering at Cenex Expo will be instrumental in shaping how these innovations are applied, scaled, and commercialised across multiple industries.”
For further information and passes visit Cenex-expo.com
