Automotive Design & In-Cabin Expo
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About this event
Automotive Design & In-Cabin Expo (North America)
Automotive Design & In-Cabin Expo is a purpose-built industry event in Novi, Michigan that focuses on how modern vehicles are designed and engineered end-to-end—from exterior form and intelligent lighting to digital cockpits, cabin HMI/UX, materials, seating, and human factors. The show is positioned as an integral part of the broader Vehicle Tech Week North America, reflecting the real shift in the industry toward integrated, software-defined vehicle experiences rather than isolated interior or component decisions.
The event takes place October 27–29, 2026 at Vibe Credit Union Showplace, Novi, Michigan, USA.
What the event is about
The Automotive Design & In-Cabin Expo brings together professionals and field experts shaping the next generation of vehicle programs and mobility platforms. The conference and exhibition are centered on “execution over explanation,” with discussions that reflect the evolving operating model of modern vehicle development—where vehicle architecture, software platforms, and systems integration are tightly connected to interior and exterior design choices.
The event reflects how vehicle design teams are redefining the relationship between brand expression and performance, balancing aerodynamic efficiency, regulatory requirements, and range optimization through advanced materials and digitally enabled lighting systems. On the in-cabin side, the conversation extends beyond individual features to autonomous-ready environments—where lighting, seating, smart surfaces, HMI, UX, and software work as a connected, responsive system.
Key event themes
- Software-defined vehicles and digital cockpits, with integrated approaches to user experience and control interfaces
- In-cabin innovation covering HMI, UX, smart surfaces, materials, seating systems, and human factors
- Intelligent lighting and digitally enabled exterior design, including adaptive surfaces and connected lighting systems
- Sustainability embedded from the outset, influencing design and engineering decisions throughout development
- Materials and systems integration, connecting components and disciplines into fully integrated design systems
- Human-centric UX and human factors, shaping decisions from day one for modern vehicle experiences
Scale and industry participation
The event is promoted as a high-impact meeting point for automotive design and cabin engineering stakeholders, with: 100+ innovative industry solutions, 3,000+ industry professionals and field experts, and 80+ industry-leading speakers.
This structure is designed to support peer-level exchange across design, engineering, UX, materials, lighting, and systems integration—helping attendees define and deliver how today’s vehicle design programs are realized.
Why it matters for attendees
Automotive Design & In-Cabin Expo is built for professionals who are actively defining the direction of modern vehicle development rather than debating where the industry is headed. By aligning interior and exterior design conversations under a unified, integrated vehicle approach, the event supports high-value engagement among decision-makers and industry experts responsible for delivering coherent, connected vehicle experiences.
Event positioning within Vehicle Tech Week North America
The expo is described as a natural evolution of Automotive Interiors Expo, expanded to match the realities of modern vehicle programs and tomorrow’s mobility platforms. As part of Vehicle Tech Week North America, it strengthens the link between automotive design strategy and broader vehicle technology development, emphasizing coherence from individual components to end-to-end integrated systems.
Who should consider attending
We expect best-fit participation from design and engineering professionals, cabin and UX/HMI leaders, materials and lighting solution providers, systems integration stakeholders, and industry leaders involved in software-defined vehicle development—particularly those working across in-cabin and exterior experiences as connected, jointly engineered systems.
Data sheet
| Event Name | Automotive Design & In-Cabin Expo |
| Event Date | October 27–29, 2026 |
| Event Status | Upcoming |
| Venue | Vibe Credit Union Showplace |
| City | Novi |
| State / Region | Michigan |
| Country | United States |
| Organizer | Organizer not explicitly named in the provided official page text; event is presented as part of Vehicle Tech Week North America on the official event website. |
| Official Event Website | designandcabinexpo-usa.com |
| Event Type | B2B trade expo and conference for automotive design, interiors, UX, lighting, materials, and cabin engineering |
| Primary Category | Auto & Automotive |
| Secondary Applicable Categories | Industrial Engineering, IT & Technology, Electric & Electronics, Packing & Packaging |
| Audience Reach | National with selective North American reach |
| Estimated Attendance / Expected Footfall | 3,000+ industry professionals and field experts, per official website; attendance figure not independently audited by organizer in the provided text. |
| Attendance Data Reliability | Estimated from official website promotional copy; good directional reliability, not a formal registration count. |
| Main Purpose of Event | To connect automotive design, cabin engineering, UX, materials, lighting, and systems-integration stakeholders with solutions for next-generation vehicle development. |
Automotive Design & In-Cabin Expo is a specialized North American B2B event focused on how vehicles are designed, engineered, and experienced inside and out. The official site positions the expo as the evolution of Automotive Interiors Expo, with expanded coverage across exterior design, digital cockpits, HMI/UX, materials, seating, lighting, sustainability, human factors, and systems integration.
The event matters because it brings together decision-makers who influence vehicle architecture, cabin experience, and design technology adoption. It is relevant for suppliers seeking access to OEM engineering teams, interior and exterior designers, materials buyers, UX and HMI leaders, lighting specialists, and product development stakeholders working on software-defined and autonomous-ready vehicles.
| Buyer / Attendee Segment | Typical Organizations | Buying Role or Influence | Relevance to Exhibitors / Suppliers |
|---|---|---|---|
| OEM product development and design teams | Automotive OEMs and mobility manufacturers | Specify design concepts, platforms, materials, and cabin technologies | Very high; primary audience for design, cabin, and component suppliers |
| Interior engineering and cabin systems teams | OEM engineering groups, Tier 1 suppliers | Evaluate materials, seating, trim, HMI, and packaging solutions | Very high; direct buyers for in-cabin technologies |
| UX / HMI / digital cockpit leaders | OEM software, UX, HMI, and cockpit program teams | Influence user interface platforms, displays, and human-machine interaction | Very high; relevant for interface, display, and software suppliers |
| Materials sourcing and procurement teams | OEMs, Tier 1s, contract manufacturers | Select and purchase fabrics, polymers, composites, trims, and finishes | Very high; strong commercial buyer segment |
| Lighting and electrical systems teams | OEMs, Tier 1 lighting suppliers, electronics firms | Influence ambient lighting, functional lighting, and integration | High; suitable for lighting, electronics, and control-system vendors |
| Seating and trim program managers | OEMs and Tier 1 seating suppliers | Define comfort, safety, packaging, and aesthetic requirements | High; important for seating, foam, textiles, and mechanism suppliers |
| Exterior styling and aerodynamics teams | OEM design studios and vehicle engineering departments | Shape outer form, surfaces, lighting integration, and efficiency objectives | High; relevant for surface, lighting, and advanced materials providers |
| Innovation and advanced technology scouts | OEM innovation teams, corporate venture groups | Explore emerging suppliers and platform partnerships | High; valuable for new technology suppliers and startups |
| Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier business development teams | Automotive component suppliers and systems integrators | Source downstream partners and identify OEM demand | High; partnership and channel development opportunity |
| Industry consultants and media | Auto research firms, trade media, consultancy groups | Influence market awareness, supplier visibility, and category intelligence | Medium; useful for PR, analyst relations, and thought leadership |
| Geographic Area | Likely Attendee Origin | Buyer Concentration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host city: Novi | Local business and technical attendees | Medium | Strong regional access to automotive suppliers and engineering talent |
| Host state / region: Michigan | OEM, Tier 1, and engineering professionals across Metro Detroit and beyond | Very high | Major automotive cluster; strongest concentration of relevant buyers |
| Nearby business hubs | Detroit, Auburn Hills, Troy, Ann Arbor, Windsor (cross-border) | High | Dense automotive engineering, design, procurement, and supplier base |
| National reach: United States | OEMs, suppliers, startups, and technology vendors from major auto states | High | Likely attendance from California, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Texas, and southern auto corridors |
| International reach | Canada, Europe, and Asia-based suppliers with North American operations | Medium | North America branding suggests cross-border supplier participation |
| Reach Level | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| National | Primary classification | The event is located in Michigan and addresses a national automotive audience, especially design and cabin stakeholders. |
| North American secondary reach | Supporting classification | Official website references North America, indicating relevance to cross-border suppliers and OEM programs. |
| Buyer Company / Organization | Buyer Type | Why It Is Relevant | Website | Best Job Titles to Target | Evidence Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Motor Company | OEM buyer | Relevant for interior, UX, lighting, materials, and design sourcing | ford.com | Design Manager; Procurement Manager; Category Manager; Program Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| General Motors | OEM buyer | Large vehicle design and cabin engineering organization | gm.com | Director of Design; Sourcing Manager; Interior Engineering Lead; UX Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Stellantis | OEM buyer | Procures cabin, electronics, and styling-related automotive solutions | stellantis.com | Purchasing Director; Product Manager; Exterior Design Lead; Supplier Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Toyota Motor North America | OEM buyer | Vehicle cabin, UX, and materials decision-making | toyota.com | Procurement Lead; Design Engineer; Cabin Systems Manager; Program Buyer | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Honda North America | OEM buyer | Relevant for interior design, safety, and in-cabin technologies | honda.com | Purchasing Manager; Human Factors Lead; Interior Design Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Hyundai Motor America | OEM buyer | Interested in cabin experience, digital cockpit, and lighting innovations | hyundaiusa.com | Innovation Manager; UX Lead; Procurement Manager; Design Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Magna International | Tier 1 supplier / systems integrator | Strong fit for cabin systems, seating, and materials supply chain | magna.com | Business Development Director; Purchasing; Product Line Manager; Engineering Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Lear Corporation | Seating and electronics supplier | Directly relevant to seating, comfort, and interior integration | lear.com | Program Manager; Sourcing Manager; Interior Systems Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Adient | Seating supplier | Relevant for seating systems and interior comfort programs | adient.com | Category Manager; Procurement Lead; Design Engineer; Product Development Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Yanfeng | Interior systems supplier | Strong alignment with cabins, trims, and integrated interior solutions | yanfeng.com | Director of Engineering; Sourcing Manager; Product Manager; Business Development | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Forvia | Interior, seating, and sustainability supplier | Relevant to sustainable interiors and cabin experience innovation | forvia.com | Procurement Director; Innovation Manager; Program Director; Design Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Priority | Job Title / Function | Department | Seniority Level | Why This Role Matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief Procurement Officer | Procurement | C-Level | Controls supplier strategy, sourcing priorities, and purchasing relationships |
| 2 | Director of Procurement | Procurement | Director | Owns sourcing decisions for major programs and supplier panels |
| 3 | Strategic Sourcing Manager | Sourcing | Manager | Evaluates suppliers, pricing, and sourcing alternatives |
| 4 | Category Manager | Procurement / Purchasing | Manager | Directly responsible for interior components, materials, or electronics categories |
| 5 | Interior Design Manager | Design / Styling | Manager | Defines cabin aesthetics, materials, and user experience direction |
| 6 | UX / HMI Lead | Digital / Product | Lead / Manager | Influences digital cockpit, display, and interface vendor selection |
| 7 | Program Manager | Program Management | Manager / Director | Coordinates supplier selection and vehicle launch execution |
| 8 | Exterior Design Lead | Design / Studio | Lead / Director | Relevant for surface, lighting, and aesthetic technology suppliers |
| 9 | Human Factors Engineer | UX / Engineering | Engineer / Senior Engineer | Shapes cabin ergonomics, safety, and user-centered design |
| 10 | Supplier Development Manager | Supplier Quality / Procurement | Manager | Bridges supplier capability with OEM requirements |
| Priority | Apollo Industry | Why It Fits the Event | Best Buyer Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | Core industry for OEMs, suppliers, and vehicle program teams | Primary target for interior, design, and engineering solutions |
| 2 | Automotive | Highly aligned with procurement and purchasing teams | Source-to-contract and supplier relationship outreach |
| 3 | Mechanical or Industrial Engineering | Relevant for cabin systems and vehicle integration | Engineering decision-makers and technical evaluators |
| 4 | Design | Central to exterior and interior styling workflows | Studio leaders and design procurement |
| 5 | Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing | Relevant to displays, controls, sensors, and lighting | Electronics sourcing and component partnerships |
| 6 | Computer Software | Important for digital cockpit, UX, and software-defined vehicles | HMI, UX, embedded software, and platform vendors |
| 7 | Consumer Electronics | Aligned with display, interface, and smart cabin hardware | Display and cockpit technology suppliers |
| 8 | Furniture | Useful for seating, comfort, and ergonomic design analogs | Seat and comfort-system suppliers |
| 9 | Plastics | Critical for trims, surfaces, and cabin components | Material sourcing and compound innovation |
| 10 | Textiles | Highly relevant to seating, trim, and interior surfaces | Fabric, upholstery, and sustainable textile suppliers |
| 11 | Import & Export | Relevant for cross-border supply chains and sourcing | Supplier distribution and North American channel development |
| 12 | Logistics & Supply Chain | Supports component availability and production continuity | Operations and supplier performance targeting |
| Metric | Figure | Status | Source / Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated total footfall | 3,000+ | Estimated / organizer-claimed | Official website promotional text | Not a formal audited registration count |
| Exhibitor count | 100+ | Estimated / organizer-claimed | Official website promotional text | Useful for exhibitor-scale assessment |
| Speaker count | 80+ | Estimated / organizer-claimed | Official website promotional text | Indicates strong content and networking value |
| Buyer count | Not publicly confirmed | Unconfirmed | No verified organizer figure in provided text | Attendance mix likely includes buyers, engineers, and suppliers |
| Historical attendance | Formerly Automotive Interiors Expo | Historical / prior-year evidence | Official website naming and positioning | Shows continuity with an established audience base |
| Focus Area | Typical Buyer Need | Buyer Engagement Opportunity | Relevant Supplier Offering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Procurement | Lower cost, better supplier performance, and risk control | Supplier meetings and sourcing discussions | Materials, components, and engineering services |
| Digital cockpit / HMI | Usable, safe, software-defined interfaces | Product demos and technical discovery | UI software, displays, controls, middleware |
| Materials innovation | Lightweight, durable, and sustainable materials | Sample reviews and technical qualification | Composites, polymers, textiles, trims |
| Lighting | Ambient, functional, and experience-enhancing lighting | Design-led solution selling | LED systems, control modules, optics |
| Seating and ergonomics | Comfort, safety, packaging efficiency | Engineer-to-engineer discussions | Seats, foam, mechanisms, coverings |
| Sustainability | Lower carbon, recycled content, compliance | ESG and supplier sustainability positioning | Recycled materials, low-emission solutions |
| Systems integration | Coordinated cabin subsystems and reduced complexity | Solution bundling and partnership discussions | Integrated platforms and tiered assemblies |
| Factor | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer relevance | Very High | Strong concentration of OEM, Tier 1, design, and procurement stakeholders |
| Decision-maker availability | High | Likely presence of directors, managers, and technical leads with sourcing influence |
| Data collection potential | High | Event has official pages for exhibitors, attendees, and conference content |
| Apollo targeting potential | Very High | Clear industry and title filters map well to automotive buyer segments |
| Geographic targeting potential | High | Michigan and broader North American auto corridors are highly targetable |
| Best outreach approach | Technical + procurement-led | Lead with applications, ROI, compliance, and design impact |
| Overall lead quality | High | Strong event for automotive B2B lead generation and account-based outreach |
| Best use case | Attendee list building, exhibitor prospecting, and account-based marketing | Particularly effective for suppliers targeting automotive design and cabin decision-makers |
| Limitations / risks | Attendance list not publicly confirmed | Need to distinguish confirmed exhibitors from likely buyers and prospects |
| Filter Type | Recommended Filters | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo industries | Automotive, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Design, Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing, Computer Software, Consumer Electronics, Plastics, Textiles, Logistics & Supply Chain | Capture OEMs, Tier 1s, and solution providers aligned with cabin and design workflows |
| Departments | Procurement, Purchasing, Engineering, Product, Design, Innovation, Supply Chain, Operations | Focus on budget holders and technical evaluators |
| Seniority | Manager, Director, VP, CXO, Head | Prioritize decision-makers and influential stakeholders |
| Job titles | Chief Procurement Officer, VP Procurement, Director of Procurement, Strategic Sourcing Manager, Category Manager, Design Manager, UX Lead, HMI Lead, Program Manager, Supplier Development Manager | Target the functions most likely to source or influence supplier selection |
| Geography | Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas, California, Ontario | Align with North American automotive manufacturing and engineering hubs |
| Employee size | 201–500, 501–1,000, 1,001–5,000, 5,001+ | Prioritize organizations with active sourcing and engineering teams |
| Keywords | automotive interiors, cabin, digital cockpit, HMI, UX, seating, materials, lighting, human factors, exterior design, vehicle design | Find companies and contacts aligned to event themes |
| Company type | OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, engineering firms, software vendors, material suppliers, component manufacturers | Separate buyer accounts from exhibitors and adjacent service providers |
| Revenue range | $50M+ where applicable | Focus on organizations with meaningful procurement activity |
| Source | Type | What It Verified | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive Design & In-Cabin Expo official website | Official organizer / event website | Dates, venue, city, country, event positioning, audience scale, event themes | Very High |
| Official event homepage content | Official event copy / promotional text | “100+ solutions,” “3,000+ professionals,” “80+ speakers,” and scope statements | High |
| Official navigation pages: Exhibitors / Attendees / Conference | Official site structure | Audience mix, exhibitor orientation, and conference relevance | High |
| Vibe Credit Union Showplace venue website | Venue reference | Venue naming and location support | High |
🎯 Selling to this event's audience? Get a free tailored buyer list
Tell us your work email and our AI instantly builds a buyer list matched to Automotive Design & In-Cabin Expo — the best‑fit companies to target, the exact decision‑maker job titles, and the industry filters that fit what you sell.