Andreas Dirring is the CSO & CFO of cogniBIT GmbH, a Munich-based Deep Tech AI startup specializing in cognitive behavior modeling for autonomous driving and robotics. Since May 2024, Andreas has led international sales and business development efforts, successfully expanding client relationships with global automotive and robotics companies. He combines over 20 years of expertise in finance, controlling, and international business with a strong focus on scaling deep tech solutions into global markets. His leadership has been instrumental in driving cogniBIT’s growth, securing strategic partnerships, and positioning the company for its upcoming international Series A financing round.

Andreas Nebeling has been with Elmos Semiconductor since 1988 in various leadership roles (i.e. Wafer-Fab Manager, Head Business Line Sensors)
Currently serves as Vice President Global Business Development, focusing on innovation and advancing the Automotive IC market.

Founder of first internet investment bank Wit Capital and asset manager Skybridge Capital as well as several technology businesses. Graduate of Harvard Law School and ex Cravath, Swaine & Moore associate.

Bill Russo is the Founder and CEO of Automobility Ltd, a strategy and investment advisory firm that helps its clients to build and profit from the future of mobility. He is a globally recognized automotive and mobility expert with nearly four decades of experience including 15+ years as an automotive executive, and has lived in China since 2004.

Bill is a frequent guest on Bloomberg TV, CNBC, BBC and CGTN and contributes regularly to the major news media outlets on developments in the China automotive industry. Bill co-authored the book “Selling to China: Stories of Success, Failure and Constant Change” [2023], and wrote the chapter titled “China’s Auto Industry: The Race to a Sustainable Future”.

Bill currently serves as the Chairman of the Automotive Committee at the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.

Xi Luo (Cissi) brings 18 years of experience across the automotive value chain, spanning both OEMs and suppliers. With deep expertise in automotive electronics and contributions to several industry standards, she has played a key role in advancing the field. She joined Smart Eye in 2019, and is leading the company’s business development in China.

Fu, Lizheng, PhD/BA with Computer, has worked in Wind River Systems (subsidiary of Aptiv) since 2007, roles from FAE manager, Sr manager, Director and Sr Director for China and APAC FEO of WR, focusing on embedded software solutions for Network, Industrial and Automotive verticals. From 2002 to 2005, VP of Tsinghua Bitway Network Company, focusing on High Performance Routers R&D. From 1987 to 2001, research staff in Shenyang Institute of Computing Technologies, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, focusing on Computer System and Network study. From 1989 to 1991 and 1996 to 1997, visiting researcher in GMD institute and Fraunhofer IPK institute in Germany.

Eugene Wang has more than 10 years of semiconductor experience from Silicon Valley. He has been responsible for product line management and global business development in both F500 and unicorn startup . He has profound insight into the semiconductor ecosystem. Eugene Wang is now responsible for global business and product strategy for SemiDrive.

Dr. Gary Overett is the Managing Director of Kognic-China. He has extensive expertise in Autonomous Driving AI and a deep understanding of the fast-paced Chinese market. Prior to joining Kognic, Dr. Overett held key positions in AD/ADAS teams in China, including Zenseact (a Volvo company) and Xiaopeng Motors. His background also includes academia, where he led the Mobile Vision Robotics Lab at the Carnegie Mellon – Sun Yat-sen University Joint Institute in China. With a passion for leveraging AI data to develop robust, real-world autonomous solutions, Dr. Overett remains at the forefront of innovation in this rapidly evolving field.

• Responsible for the company-level strategy planning and operation, and the product planning and marketing of Horizon Robotics’ automotive business
• Formerly served as Head of Sales in Horizon Robotics and achieve rapid growth and breakthroughs in business
• Worked at National Instruments in Engineering and Sales

Focusing on the continuous innovation of advanced safety technologies, expanding the dimensions of protection, and exploring the depth of safety.

In recent years, there has been expansion in the research and development of intelligent cockpit safety systems. For example, cross screen airbags for large screens, safety system solution for zero gravity seat, adaptive system for diversity occupant in the cabin.

Core technical capability: 1. Deeply own the capability of research and development of passive safety systems for automobiles, such as airbags, seat belts, and steering wheels, etc. 2. Rich experience in project management and cross departmental coordination: able to efficiently manage R&D teams and coordinate internal and external resources. 3. Ability to cope with rapid iteration: Adapt to the fast-paced R&D cycle of OEM

Mr Yang Yongzhe（Jared） is a leading expert in intelligent vehicles and is currently Director of Technical Branding and Strategy at Great Wall Motor. Mr Yang has over 20 years’ experience in the FMCG, consumer electronics, internet and automotive industries and has held various leadership roles including Marketing Director, Senior Product Manager, Telematics Research Director and Deputy Director of Product Operations. He has made significant contributions to major internet platforms such as AutoNavi and Alibaba, demonstrating his proficiency in strategic planning, consultancy, and operational design for numerous telematics projects within the automotive sector. Recognised for his in-depth industry knowledge and extensive practical experience, Mr Yang is now spearheading Great Wall’s “Coffee AI” initiative, which focuses on intelligent technology brand communication and innovative technology strategic planning.

After graduating in Physics in the Complutense University of Madrid with master courses in Temple University, I turned to technology and now I account for over 30 years of experience in software development, systems integration, project, and product management. I have worked for all kinds of companies, highlighting my time at HP and more recently at Samsung Research where I had the opportunity to apply all my experience in deep learning-related projects. I’m currently Anyverse’s product technical expert and point of contact for applications such as sensor simulation or deep learning training using advanced hyperspectral synthetic data.

Juergen has an extensive success record in Application, Sales, Product Definition, Business Management and Product Marketing including set-up and management of offices around the world.

He is a Strategic Advisor and Executive Management Consultant to international OEM, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers with special focus in Asia. He has a strategic Focus on Sensors technology (Radar, Ultrasonic, Camera and Lidar) and Sensor Fusion technology (Domain Controllers) for Autonomous Drive Level 2 to Level 5. Juergen’s key Application focus is: Driver Assistance Systems (Ultra Sonic Park Assist, Radar, Camera Systems), Infotainment, Autonomous Valet Parking, Cyber Security

Kai YANG is a Radar System Engineer and responsible for radar signal processing and RF architecture with Calterah. Kai graduated from University of Texas at Austin with a PhD degree in electrical engineering. Dr. YANG has more than 15 years of experience in millimeter-wave radar SoCs and sensors, autonomous driving, and electromagnetics.

Kangkang Zhou is the team leader for the Intelligent Driving Simulation Toolchain Development at IAV China. He focuses on developing and optimizing a cloud-based ADAS scenario simulation platform. His responsibilities include designing scalable simulation platforms, ensuring seamless integration with various ADAS components, and developing monitoring tools for system performance and safety evaluation. Additionally, he works on scenario mining and reconstruction to enhance simulation accuracy and reliability using real and simulated data. Mr. Zhou holds a Master’s degree in Vehicle Engineering from TU Dresden and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from China University of Petroleum

Kelvin Chen holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas Christian University in the US and is in charge of market development in automotive over 8 years.

As deputy General Manager of Lianchuang Electronic Technology Co.,Ltd., he leads a team working with global major Tier1s over ADAS sensors, in cabin monitoring cameras, SVC lenses etc.

Leon Hägele is a Sales Engineer at Image Engineering in Kerpen, Germany. With a background in electrical engineering, he has been working for over five years on solutions to measure and improve image quality in automotive cameras. At Auto-Sens China in Hefei, he will share practical insights on the testing metrics from the IEEE P2020 standard and discuss how Image Engineering applies it to achieve reliable and meaningful test results for modern driver assistance, autonomous driving and driver monitoring  systems.

Lionel Bennes is Lead Product Manager at Ansys, driving the development of physics-based simulation for ADAS and autonomous vehicles, including sensor and intelligent headlamp modeling. With a background in computer science and over a decade in automotive simulation, he focuses on perception-in-the-loop workflows for virtual validation and system integration. His work bridges high-fidelity physics, real-time performance, and scalability, helping OEMs and suppliers accelerate the safe development of automated driving technologies.

A passionate automotive engineer with proven knowledge in optical sensor systems, detection functions and customer functions. Working on optimizing the performance of sensors and ADAS, even in harsh environmental conditions, helping consumers gain confidence in their vehicle´s capabilities and getting them safely to their destination. Looking forward to meeting exciting people and love to help tackle the upcoming challenges of tomorrow.

Chi Ailong (Martin) is the General Manager of Blusmart Technology’s Wenzhou Branch, with over 15 years of experience in automotive electronics, sales, and engineering. He previously held leadership roles at Zhejiang Yahu Automotive Components and Zhejiang Changjiang Automotive Electronics. Chi holds a Master’s degree from the University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg, Germany, and brings a strong international perspective to innovation and business development in the smart tech industry.

As former software developer for the navy officer involved in combat system development Martin switched to the automotive industry in 2011. Since then leading several projects in the automotive industry for chassis development, production planning and ADAS development. Since 2023 he is based at VW’s new development HUB in Hefei fostering the local ADAS projects to run within the global VW strategy.

Michael Baus studied electrical engineering, information technology and business administration at the Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule Aachen.

He started 2005 at the Robert Bosch GmbH within the micro-mechanical sensor development for vehicle control and airbag systems and held different positions as application engieer, project and group manager for sensors and sensor systems (electronical control units).

In 2013 he initiated the development of a safe global navigation satellite system (GNSS) based positioning platform for highly automated driving applications and was project director for platform and customer project management as well as GNSS correction services.

Since 2021 he is head of department at Bosch Corporate Research for a wide variety of key technologies within Bosch. Major contributions are in the field of RADAR, Video, LIDAR, Optical systems and signal processing as well as power electronics and electrical machine and drive designs.

Ofer Raz has over 12 years of experience in the automotive and semiconductor industries, including the past nine years in leadership roles at Arbe, specializing in 4D imaging radar technology. Based in Asia for the last two years, he works closely with Tier-1 suppliers and OEMs across China, Japan, and Taiwan to drive the development, validation, and integration of next-generation radar systems. Earlier in his career, Ofer led radar algorithm and system engineering initiatives, building a strong foundation across both semiconductor design and system-level perspectives.

Olivier Chatard has over 15 years’ experience in EOL Test Bench Project Management for the Automotive industry. He is an expert in Electronics, Sales, and Business Development across Asian markets. Recognized for his initiative, resilience, and cross-cultural leadership.

Peipei Zhao is the President of North America at RoboSense (2498.HK), driving the company’s growth across the region. With over 15 years of experience in global technology, he has led the international expansion of Chinese enterprises and supported U.S. and EU companies in China. Zhao spearheaded the initial adoption of LiDAR in U.S. consumer vehicles and pioneered the Dual Mentor mechanism to enhance employee retention and motivation. 
 
He previously held leadership roles at Ericsson, Flex, Valeo, and Changan Automobile. Zhao holds a master’s degree in economics from Michigan Tech and a bachelor’s degree in management science from Hefei University of Technology. He was recognized as a Champion of Diversity by Automotive News for advancing innovation and inclusivity. 

Riccardo Groppo has a long-lasting experience in the automotive domain. He worked at FIAT Research Centre for almost 25 yrs, being the Head of Automotive Electronics Dept. He has been involved in several successful technological transfer (e.g. Common Rail, MultiAir, Dry Dual Clutch) and has promoted the development of a family of intelligent smart drivers in cooperation with BOSCH and Freescale Semiconductors. He owns 40 patents. He is Chairman of the Automotive Working Group and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors within EPoSS (European Platform on Smart Systems Integration).
He has been the CEO and founder of Ideas&Motion Srl, a company developing high-tech smart systems for automotive applications.

He is the CEO and founder of Sleep Advice Technologies Srl, an innovative start-up in Turin (Italy).

Roger is CEO and founder of StrategiaNow Consulting, President of the Mobile Satellite User Association, and is an advisor to the International Telecommunications Union.  Roger draws on 25+ years’ experience in the technology industry as an analyst, journalist and consultant. Roger is a graduate of Dartmouth College.

Sebastian is responsible for business development at Momenta. With extensive experience collaborating with automotive OEMs worldwide, he plays a key role in initiating the deployment of L2++ and robotaxi projects. Sebastian is committed to delivering cost-efficient solutions for the automotive industry while ensuring an exceptional user experience.

Shanning Zhang is the Tire Insights and Business Development Manager at Goodyear Asia Pacific, where she leads a team focused on developing tire intelligence and mobility solutions.

With extensive experience in both business and technical fields within the automotive industry, Shanning has been dedicated to the development and commercialization of new technologies. Before joining Goodyear, she held positions at GEFIT, BOSCH Automotive, and the Bekaert Technology Center.

Shanning holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Nanjing University and master’s degrees in Materials Engineering from both the Université Catholique de Louvain and Grenoble INP. She had also obtained the licensee to practice law in China.

Tong Wu is an experienced market and strategy leader with a strong background in automotive and industrial technologies. Currently Market Manager for ADAS/AD at Sensirion AG in Zurich, he drives global go-to-market strategies, business development, and innovation alignment for advanced environmental sensing solutions.

Previously, he worked as a Senior Strategy Consultant at Roland Berger, where he developed growth and pricing strategies for leading Tier-1 automotive suppliers and supported large-scale market entries in Europe and the Middle East. Earlier roles at Liebherr-Components AG and Robert Bosch GmbH gave him deep expertise in technical sales, business development, and project management across Europe and Asia.

Tong holds an MBA from the Vienna University of Economics and Business, as well as MSc and BSc degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Vienna Technical University. A native speaker of German and Chinese, fluent in English, he brings both cross-cultural experience and technical-commercial expertise.

Senior Vice President of Wuhan HIWAY Technology, responsible for the company’s marketing.

With over 17 years of experience in the automotive intelligent cockpit sector, he has extensive experience in product development, project management, and customer marketing. He has led the development of several innovative display products for the automotive industry and successfully secured several well-known domestic OEM clients.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering from SWPU and an MBA from Wuhan University.

Wenxiu YU, Calterah Product Marketing Engineer. With nearly a decade of experience in the semiconductor industry, she possesses a keen ability to perceive market trends and abundant practical experience in key markets including automotive electronics and consumer electronics.

Yida Wang holds a master’s degree in mechanics, specializing in automotive technology, from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. He has over eight years of experience in the automotive field, focusing on smart cockpits and in-cabin projection.

As deputy General Manager of Lianchuang Electronic Technology Co.,Ltd., he leads the team focused on the R&D and manufacturing of in-cabin projection products, such as PGU in HUDs or smart headlights.

Professional Experience

04.2024 – Volkswagen China Technology Company
Leader of ADAS solution, architecture and safety team: – Responsible for the CEA ADAS solution and
architecture team – Responsible for the functional safety and SOTIF team – Responsible for the ADAS AI application/data science

04.2019 – 03.2024 Audi China and VCIC Mobility Asia
Function owner Audi/Huawei ADAS cooperation: – End-to-end responsible for the function cluster – Responsible for project timeline and release
management – Responsible for requirement specification of customer
function, system and effect chain partners

01.2019 – 04.2019 Audi AG I/EF-721
Development engineer Audi STP (Traffic Jam Pilot)

01.2015 – 12.2018 Audi AG I/EA-252 und I/EA-F23 – Project leader for “Camshaft Misalignment Adaption” – Function development and application for “Camshaft
Misalignment Adaption” – SW and function development for multiple functions in
Powertrain Control Unit

05.2012 – 12.2014 AVL Deutschland GmbH – SW and function development for the ADAS project
PEA (Predictive Efficiency Assistant)
–
Function development “Driver profile Recognition and
Analysis” –
09.2011 – 03.2012
SW and function development for operating strategy
optimization of the function “Cylinder on Demand”
Audi AG I/EA-252
Diploma thesis: Operating strategy optimization of
“Cylinder on Demand” based on predictive road data
03.2011 – 08.2011
08.2010 – 01.2011
Audi AG N/EA-322
Internship: Simulation for optimization of the operating
strategy of the function “Cylinder on Demand”
Audi AG I/EA-252
Internship: Tool chain development for model-based inlet
air volume calculation and application

Yuichi Motohashi is the Senior Manager and Deputy Director of End Markets at GlobalFoundries, leading the global segment for automotive cameras, LiDAR, SerDes, and displays. With over 15 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, Yuichi has specialized in CMOS image sensors. He began their career at Sony in Japan, developing CMOS image sensors for automotive applications from the ground up and taking projects from the conceptual stage to mass production with various automotive customers. Yuichi served as product manager, overseeing several products mainly for US and EU customers.

After his tenure at Sony, Yuichi joined the Japanese start-up TIER IV, where he developed cutting-edge automotive cameras for their autonomous vehicle platform. Currently, at GlobalFoundries, Yuichi is responsible for sensing devices, including CMOS image sensors, SPAD, silicon photonics LiDAR, and display drivers for the automotive segment.

Yuichi holds a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan, earned in 2006 and 2008, respectively. Yuichi holds more than 30 CMOS image sensor related patents.

2024–Today Volkswagen Group (China) Technology Co., Ltd., Hefei
R&D: Head of ADAS Global Functions & Local OEM cooperation

2022-2024 Volkswagen Anhui, Hefei R&D: Head of ADAS Global Functions

2020-2022 AUDI China/Cariad China, Beijing R&D: Project Lead ADAS L2+ automated Parking functions

2019-2020 – AUDI AG, Ingolstadt R&D: Function Development ACA(L2)and Traffic Jam Pilot(L3)

2018-2019 AUDI AG, Ingolstadt QA: Function Validation & Release Automated Parking Functions

2014-2018 AUDI AG, Ingolstadt Project coordination A4L Localization

2011-2014 AUDI AG, Ingolstadt Product Data Management Digital Factory

M.Scat University of Siegen Including Internship and Master Thesis at Robert Bosch GmbH: Design of a radar sensor on vehicles for speed measurement