Hannover Messe 2026 took place in Hannover, Germany, from 20 to 24 April, bringing together industry leaders, researchers and policymakers to discuss the latest developments in industrial innovation. As a leading trade fair for the industry, the event attracted 3,000 exhibitors and 110,000 visitors from across the world. Artificial intelligence, automation, and digitalisation were among the key themes of this year’s edition.
On 23 April, CulturalRoad was represented at the panel discussion “Automated Vehicles: Myths, Reality and Europe’s Road Ahead“, held at the European Commission stand in Hall 12. This interactive session examined the current state of automated vehicle technologies, separated common misconceptions from industrial reality, and explored how EU regulation supports their safe and responsible deployment.
Maria Alonso Raposo from CulturalRoad coordinator ERTICO took part in the discussion, addressing the question of public readiness for autonomous vehicles. Her contribution drew on CulturalRoad’s co-creation activities with stakeholders and users, as well as related projects ERTICO is involved in, illustrating the role of citizen engagement and user acceptance in shaping the future of automated mobility.
The session also featured contributions from Akos Kriston (European Commission Joint Research Centre), who addressed the role of artificial intelligence in automated vehicles, and Michael Wolfert (Volkswagen/ACEA), who discussed Europe’s industrial positioning in the global race towards driving automation. The discussion was moderated by Maria Cristina Galassi from the European Commission’s DG GROW.
