By Robert Evans, CEO, Cenex

This September, the UK’s largest gathering of Net Zero and Connected Automated Mobility (CAM) innovators returns to UTAC Millbrook. But Cenex Expo 2025 isn’t just an exhibition - it’s a platform. A place where technology, policy and investment align. A meeting point for the people who will define the UK’s mobility future.

For close to two decades, Cenex Expo has brought together the leaders shaping cleaner, smarter, and more connected transport. This year, with the ICE phase-out for cars and vans looming, fresh government commitments for manufacturing, and the UK’s CAM legislation now in place, the urgency to act - and to act together - has never been greater.

A Year of Acceleration

2025 is a landmark year. The Government’s £2.5 billion automotive commitment, under the Drive 35 programme, and the wider Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan are more than funding announcements, they are signals of intent. They aim to scale up the UK’s strategic vehicle technologies, strengthen our domestic supply chains, and build a globally competitive battery sector from chemistry through to gigafactory capacity.

These priorities will be at the heart of the Cenex Expo seminar programme. Across six theatres, 200+ expert speakers will address the breakthroughs and bottlenecks shaping the road to Net Zero and CAM. From battery scale-up and V2X integration to software-defined vehicles and resilient supply chains, the discussions will drill down into the policies and partnerships that will move us from pilot projects to commercial scale deployment.

Collaboration as the Conduit

If there’s one constant in transport innovation, it’s that no single organisation can achieve transformation in isolation. Collaboration is the conduit that turns ideas into market-ready solutions - and that’s as true for driverless technology as it is for electrification.

CAM is entering a decisive phase. Early pilots in logistics and shared passenger transport are maturing, and the Government’s announcement to fast-track commercial self-driving pilots to spring 2026 is a clear signal: the UK intends to lead. With the Automated Vehicles Act now on the statute books, the focus turns to the secondary legislation that will define operator licensing, vehicle authorisation, and in-use regulations. Cenex Expo will provide the platform for industry and policymakers to work through those details together.

And CAM isn’t limited to the road. The supply chain we are nurturing has applications in agriculture, defence, aerospace, marine and beyond. These dual-use opportunities strengthen the business case for investment and widen the scope for UK expertise to make its mark globally.

Net Zero: From Ambition to Scale

While CAM headlines often grab the attention, the transition to Net Zero remains the defining challenge, and opportunity, for the automotive and transport sectors. Net Zero is not just about tailpipe emissions; it’s about whole-life sustainability. The provenance of materials, the carbon footprint of manufacturing, the ability to reuse and recycle components - all these factors will increasingly shape market competitiveness.

At Cenex Expo, you’ll see how the industry is tackling hard-to-decarbonise segments like heavy goods vehicles, where the final balance between battery-electric and hydrogen solutions is still being refined. You’ll also find practical insights into building robust, circular supply chains, developing next-generation EV charging technologies, and creating infrastructure capable of supporting equitable and accessible mobility for all.

A Programme Built Around “What’s Next?”

We’ve designed this year’s seminar programme to be forward-looking but grounded in reality. It’s about “what’s next?” not in the abstract, but in terms of delivery. Highlights include:

• Building an Automotive Industrial Policy for the Next Decade – examining how Drive 35 will accelerate strategic R&D and manufacturing scale-up.

• Decarbonising HGVs and Commercial Fleets – exploring the mix of energy vectors and operational models that can deliver meaningful reductions.

• The UK’s CAM Opportunity – delving into legislation, safety, and commercialisation pathways.

• Hydrogen Mobility Innovations – bringing together automotive and cross-sector stakeholders in our Hydrogen Technology Showcase.

• Software-Defined Vehicles – understanding the implications for design, maintenance, and over-the-air updates.

The Cenex Expo Experience

Beyond the seminar rooms, Cenex Expo is about seeing technology in action. More than 150 exhibitors will showcase everything from battery cell innovations to advanced autonomy systems, AI-enabled fleet management tools to sustainable materials breakthroughs. Live demonstrations and ride-and-drive experiences on UTAC’s steering pad will bring the concepts discussed indoors to life outdoors.

For Net Zero, exhibitors include Ford, Intelligent Energy, Robert Bosch, Toyota, Triumph Motorcycles and Vauxhall. For CAM, companies such as Aurrigo, Alexander Dennis and Nissan will be on hand to demonstrate the future of connected and automated mobility.

And, importantly, Cenex Expo is designed for cross-sector serendipity. The same enabling technologies driving change in automotive are increasingly relevant in agriculture, aerospace, marine and defence. The conversations that happen in the exhibition hall often plant the seeds for partnerships that span industries.

From Disruption to Maturity

A year ago, I talked about “disrupting the disruptors” — a reflection on how quickly yesterday’s revolutionary ideas become today’s baseline expectations. In 2025, we are entering a phase of maturity in many areas of clean mobility. That doesn’t mean the innovation stops; it means the focus sharpens. The challenge now is scaling sustainably, integrating systems seamlessly, and ensuring that our advances deliver tangible benefits for people, places and the planet.

This is why Cenex Expo exists. It’s not simply a showcase; it’s an agenda-setting forum. It’s where industry voices meet government policy, where researchers meet investors, and where supply chain leaders meet end-users. It’s where we challenge assumptions, test ideas, and build the partnerships that will carry us through the next decade.

An Open Invitation

Whether you are an established OEM, a start-up with a disruptive idea, a policymaker shaping regulation, or an academic pushing the boundaries of what’s possible - Cenex Expo is your platform.

If this is your first time, you can expect two days of concentrated expertise, practical insight, and genuine collaboration. If you’re a regular, you’ll know that the conversations you have at Cenex Expo often spark initiatives that continue well beyond September.

The transport sector’s future will not be determined by any single announcement or invention. It will be shaped by the accumulation of decisions, the exchange of knowledge, and the willingness to work across boundaries. Cenex Expo is where those elements come together.

We look forward to welcoming you to UTAC Millbrook on the 3–4 September. Let’s turn ambition into action - together.

Register now Cenex Expo 3rd - 4th September 2025