Future of Vehicles (FoV2026)

Dear Colleagues,

The automotive and mobility sectors are experiencing one of the most significant transformations in their history. Electrification, connected and autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing technologies, and sustainable transportation solutions are reshaping how vehicles are designed, produced, and operated. At the same time, increasing environmental expectations, evolving regulatory frameworks, and global economic challenges require innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to future mobility.

The Future of Vehicles Conference 2026 (FoV2026), to be held in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, aims to provide an international forum for researchers, industry professionals, policymakers, and technology experts to discuss the latest developments and challenges in vehicle engineering, intelligent transportation systems, and mobility innovation. The conference promotes collaboration between academia and industry while supporting the dissemination of cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements.

FoV2026 features distinguished keynote speakers from internationally recognized universities, research institutions, and industrial organizations, representing diverse fields of expertise related to future mobility, vehicle technologies, digitalization, and sustainable transportation. Their contributions will provide valuable insights into emerging trends, technological challenges, and future research directions.

This Special Issue is dedicated to publishing high-quality contributions presented at FoV2026, while also welcoming submissions from the broader international research community. The objective is to advance scientific knowledge and practical solutions that contribute to safer, smarter, more sustainable, and economically viable transportation systems.

By bringing together innovative research from multiple disciplines, this Special Issue seeks to strengthen the connection between theoretical advancements and industrial implementation. It also aims to foster collaboration across engineering, computer science, economics, management, and policy domains, recognizing that the future of mobility requires integrated and multidisciplinary solutions.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Electric, hybrid, hydrogen-powered, and alternative-fuel vehicle technologies;
• Autonomous vehicles, automated driving systems, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADASs);
• Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-driven mobility solutions;
• Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication and connected transportation systems;
• Smart infrastructure and intelligent transport systems;
• Vehicle simulation, testing, validation, and digital twin applications;
• Sustainable manufacturing technologies and lightweight materials;
• Energy management, battery technologies, and renewable energy integration;
• Cybersecurity, safety, and reliability of modern transportation systems;
• Traffic management, mobility optimization, and smart city solutions;
• Technology forecasting, innovation management, and strategic decision-making in mobility;
• Economic, regulatory, and policy aspects of transportation transformation;
• Emerging technologies and future trends in automotive and mobility systems.

We warmly invite researchers, engineers, industry experts, and policymakers to contribute their latest findings and perspectives. We look forward to receiving your submissions and to advancing the scientific dialogue that will help shape the future of vehicles and mobility systems.

Prof. Dr. István Lakatos
Dr. Zoltán Weltsch
Dr. Leticia Pekk
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Future Transportation is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.