The auto industry is America’s largest manufacturing sector and underpins our nation’s industrial base. The sector employs 10 million Americans in all 50 states and drives $1.2 trillion into the economy each year – nearly 5 percent of GDP.  Auto companies are investing in an increasingly connected, automated and electrified vehicle fleet. But the industry also faces unprecedented geopolitical and economic pressures. 

Navigating these challenges is especially acute for heavily regulated auto companies because of the industry’s multi-year design and manufacturing cycles and the significant capital expenditures necessary to bring any new vehicle to market.  

Join us for a day where we bring together automotive manufacturers, innovators, policymakers and the financial community to examine the U.S. auto industry’s future, particularly questions at the intersection of technology, government policy and capital.

The U.S. auto industry is more than just economic horsepower—it’s a bellwether of national competitiveness. But market uncertainty, regulatory fragmentation, and aggressive foreign industrial policy (especially from China) threaten its position. This panel explores:

• How automakers are navigating shifts in technology, trade, and consumer demand
• What a "pro-growth, pro-America" industrial policy might look like
• How Congress and federal agencies can support a globally competitive, innovation-driven sector

Automakers are making huge bets on connectivity, autonomy and electrification and producing cutting-edge vehicles pushing the boundaries of technology and design. These innovations are saving lives and increasing safety on the roads. This panel asks: How can the U.S. lead the world in automotive innovation? How is AI changing the driving experience and revolutionizing automotive design? Where does the U.S. stack up in autonomous vehicle deployment? What’s happening inside – and outside – the vehicle to address driver distraction and impairment?

The auto industry isn’t just about cars—it’s about chips, minerals, software, and logistics. From the battlefield to the power grid, next-generation mobility is a quiet backbone of national security. This panel digs into:

• The intersection of automotive tech and defense readiness
• What Chinese overcapacity and supply chain control mean for U.S. resilience
• The steps needed to secure domestic sourcing of critical inputs like rare earths, semiconductors, and batteries