ZONE Cluster’s annual industry forum
CEE Automotive Transition Forum 2026
A regional meeting point for Central and Eastern Europe’s automotive transition: suppliers, manufacturers, researchers, startups and policymakers in one place for one day – so you leave with a clear, actionable strategy for a fast-changing market.
- 25 November 2026
- Museum of Ethnography, Budapest
- Organised by ZONE Cluster
Why we organise it
The transition is a shared task – across the region
ZONE Cluster’s mission is to connect Hungary’s research, development and innovation capacity in intelligent transport and the automotive industry. The CEE Automotive Transition Forum is the public, regional platform for that work.
Electromobility, software-defined vehicles, new EU regulation and the talent shortage are reshaping the supply chain all at once. No single company can answer these challenges alone – so we bring the industry together from Hungary and the V4 region.
The forum has been held every year since 2024; in 2026 we welcome participants at the Museum of Ethnography in Budapest.
Who it is for
Participants
Everyone working on the future of automotive and mobility:
- Automotive suppliers and manufacturers (OEM, Tier 1–3)
- SMEs, engineering and IT companies
- Energy and infrastructure players
- Universities, research institutes and startups
- Industry associations, clusters and policymakers
- HR and training professionals
Topics
Five questions shaping the future of mobility
The 2026 forum is built around five interconnected themes.
Global trends and CEE’s added value
EU regulation, the role of CEE suppliers in global value chains, and Hungary’s fleet renewal programme.
The energy and automotive nexus
Clean vehicle transition, grid flexibility, charging networks and integrating renewables with smart mobility.
The tech revolution
Software-defined vehicles (SDV), connectivity, autonomous mobility and cybersecurity.
Human capacity and new business models
The talent shortage, new revenue streams, and how SMEs and engineers can pivot to new markets – because technology is nothing without talent.
Railway and automotive convergence
Shared Tier 1 suppliers, technologies and engineering talent serving growing rolling-stock demand across CEE.
Programme
Programme highlights
Keynotes, panel discussions and a parallel side session from 8:00 to 17:00. The programme may change – the up-to-date version is on the conference website.
Attending
What the forum offers
- A full day of keynotes and panel discussions
- EXPO zone with exhibiting partners
- Matchmaking zone for new business connections
- End-of-day networking (Rooftop Exchange)
- Several ticket types, with discounted partner tickets
Past forums
Third edition after 2024 and 2025
Previous forums featured, among others, EIT Urban Mobility, PSNM New Mobility Association, the Hungarian Battery Association, Evosoft, GROB and the Neumann Technology Platform.
Past forums ↗The cluster’s work
Behind the forum: ZONE Cluster
The forum’s topics come straight from the cluster’s everyday work – find out more about what we do.
25 November 2026 · Museum of Ethnography, Budapest
See you in Budapest!
Tickets, registration and the full programme are available on the official conference website.
The CEE Automotive Transition Forum is organised by ZONE Klaszter Nonprofit Kft. Participation fees support the delivery of the event and the cluster’s non-profit professional activities.
