Mobility Engineering Technology

PTC’s Scott Davies, Subaru of America’s Amy Sgrignoli (center) and Rivian & Volkswagen Group’s Harini Ganesan at AutoTech 2026 in Novi, Michigan. (Chris Clonts) Change is hard. Anybody in the mobility industry has experienced that for at least 20 years. Perhaps no one understands that more than executives and engineering leaders who are trying to restructure organizations for efficiency and innovation around the goal of software defined vehicles (SDV).

The deployment of modern electric articulated buses continues to grow exponentially across the globe. Capable of carrying approximately 50% more passengers than standard buses, these electric vehicles (EVs) are instantly recognizable by the flexible joint that connects the two sections of the vehicle. To the untrained eye, this bend may first appear as a simple passage for commuters. The truth is that it’s a critical mechanical and electrical link.

In any good political thriller, there's a moment when a fortified vehicle becomes the target of attack. Bullets are no match for the vehicle's armor. Windows may spiderweb as impacts are born from a volley of bullets, and yet the occupants are safe inside. For a very small number of Mercedes customers, these types of concerns are a reality. For those potential owners, there's the Mercedes Guard S-Class S680.

Understanding the elements that contribute to successful battery manufacturing is critical to the trajectory of next-gen mobility. As demands for battery solutions and production strategies evolve, simulation technologies offer transformative solutions to accelerate and optimize development.

One of the louder arguments against the adoption of electric vehicles was that EVs would bring down the grid. The reality is far different. Instead, GM and utility companies see EVs as a necessary tool to keep electricity flowing. AI data centers use an incredible amount of electricity, and GM sees EVs, along with its upcoming sodium-ion batteries, as necessary additions to the grid to keep the lights on even when everyone is summarizing their search results.

Engineers and designers might approach a new vehicle program from different angles. At Saint-Gobain Sekurit’s new Imagine Lab though, the two disciplines work together from a fresh sheet when it comes to new vehicle glass and glazing options. Sekurit built the Imagine Lab co-development space with the Paris-based Meaningful design studio. The Lab is a modular space that Sekurit can set up at an OEM’s design center, with stations set up to showcase Sekurit’s new glass and glazing technologies.

Development of the next generation of batteries requires materials with improved properties and energy storage systems that provide better performance, durability, and longevity. Multi-scale modeling and simulation methods are essential for accurately designing, predicting, and optimizing these characteristics across different scales — from the molecular level to the complete battery system.

Advanced CAD and simulation tools allow engineers to evaluate injection geometry, flow paths and structural durability before production, supporting the development of fuel systems capable of meeting Tier 5 emissions requirements. (PHINIA) Off-highway equipment is being asked to do more with less. Less margin for emissions, less tolerance for downtime and less room for inefficiency, while operating under some of the most demanding duty cycles in the transport sector.

For the past several years, manufacturing leaders have obsessed over a single question: How do we capture the knowledge of our retiring experts before they walk out the door for the last time? The answers have poured in, from digital work instructions and video libraries to AI-assisted knowledge bases and immersive training simulations.

Star Catcher Industries is developing an in-space power grid that captures sunlight in orbit and delivers it wirelessly to satellites on demand. The Florida-based startup's approach uses optical power beaming to deliver concentrated solar energy to satellites and spacecraft in orbit.