ITS America Expo draws 3,000+ to Detroit for mobility demos

ITS America Conference & Expo 2026 brought more than 3,000 transportation professionals to Detroit for four days of sessions, live demonstrations and outdoor tests of connected and autonomous mobility technology. The event highlighted new cybersecurity and startup zones, set plans for future conferences in Salt Lake City and Orlando, and used Detroit streets as a showcase for real-world deployment.

Why it matters: - The Detroit event showed how connected transportation technology is moving from concept to real-world deployment. - The conference brought together public, private and research leaders around tools meant to improve safety, mobility and system resilience. - Michigan’s role as an automotive center gave the industry a live setting to test technologies on real roads.

What happened: - ITS America Conference & Expo 2026 drew more than 3,000 industry professionals from 46 states and the District of Columbia to Huntington Place in Detroit. - RX Global and ITS America organized the four-day conference. - The event focused on artificial intelligence, connected transportation, cybersecurity, data analytics, digital infrastructure and autonomous vehicles. - The conference theme was “Empowering Innovation.” - Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered closing remarks and met with industry leaders and Clinton High School STEM students on the exhibit hall floor.

The details: - The program included more than 100 conference sessions, 25 live demonstrations and more than 170 exhibitors and sponsors. - Outdoor demonstrations placed attendees inside Detroit’s connected transportation corridors. - The 45-mile I-94 Freeway Experience linked downtown Detroit to Ann Arbor. - The four-mile M-1 Intelligent Woodward Experience included 31 vehicle-to-everything intersections and autonomous vehicle shuttles. - Detroit produces 1.7 million vehicles annually, giving the conference a backdrop tied directly to transportation manufacturing. - Sean McMaster, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation, joined a June 10 plenary session on the industry’s 35-year evolution and future mobility. - Miovision sponsored a June 11 plenary session led by Laura Chace and Kurtis McBride, chief executive and co-founder of Miovision, focused on real-world outcomes. - State DOT roundtables gave transportation leaders a forum to share implementation strategies and lessons learned. - The new ITS StartUps Zone gave emerging companies space alongside established industry players. - The Cybersecurity & Data Zone featured 10 exhibitors, including Palo Alto Networks, Google and 360 Network Solutions, LLC. - That zone also offered workshops and expert sessions on protecting connected vehicles, securing smart infrastructure and strengthening transportation system resilience. - Blueflite used the outdoor demo area to show drone deliveries intended to support emergency responders. - Laura Chace, U.S. DOT representatives, Michigan DOT and ITS Michigan received sample deliveries of hats and koozies. - ITS Korea and the Korean Delegation received invitations to ITS World Congress 2026. - The Future Leaders Program, sponsored by Southwest Research Institute, connected students and young professionals with industry pioneers around artificial intelligence in transportation.

Between the lines: - Detroit’s street-level demos suggest the industry is emphasizing deployment, not just discussion. - The startup and cybersecurity zones point to two pressure points in transportation: bringing new companies into the market and defending connected systems from digital threats. - The mix of federal, state, private-sector and student participation signals a broader push to build the next generation of mobility talent and policy support.

What's next: - ITS America Conference & Expo 2027 is set for April 12-15, 2027, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. - ITS World Congress 2028 is scheduled for Oct. 8-12, 2028, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. - More information is available here.

The bottom line: - ITS America used Detroit to showcase that intelligent transportation is already being deployed on streets, highways and campuses, not just discussed in conference rooms.