IATR 2026 Conference: Panel Highlight: Automated Vehicle Policy, Regulatory & Business Developments

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Automated Vehicle Policy, Regulatory & Business Developments

📅 Tuesday, September 15th, 2026

⏰ 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST

🚘 WAYMO

🚐 ZOOX

🚙 VIA

🏎️ MOTIONAL

This session will cover the latest trends and issues from the perspective of autonomous vehicle (AV) industry stakeholders. The evolution of technology advancements and business models will be presented, with an emphasis on policy developments in the regulatory framework for testing and deployment. Panelists will discuss the IATR’s Guiding Principles, including but not limited to: regulatory compliance; community engagement and public acceptance; coordination and protocols with first responders; operations in existing markets; plans for testing and launching in new jurisdictions; and partnerships with public transit and at airports. There will be a particular focus on the experiences so far and plans for scaling autonomous vehicles in Las Vegas, which has clearly established itself as an “AV City” supporting and promoting safety and innovation.

Featured Autonomous Technologies & Fleets

Session Moderator

Jeff Farrah

AVIA

Chief Executive Officer

Jeff Farrah serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA), leading policy advocacy to advance safe AV deployment. With deep public policy experience in autonomous tech, he leads national strategy and regulatory frameworks with policymakers across federal and state levels.

Panel Speakers

Paul Escobar

Zoox

Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs

Paul Escobar drives policy strategy and government affairs at Zoox. He works closely with regulatory agencies and industry partners to advance safe driverless deployment, scaling purpose-built autonomous vehicle fleets and integrating rider-focused mobility services into urban transport networks.

Samuel Mark Wempe

Motional

Senior Director of Government Relations

Sam Wempe leads government relations and public policy at Motional, shaping AV regulation and market deployment. Working in the AV sector since 2017, he has secured approvals for driverless operations, advanced state AV legislation, and served as Chair of the AVIA Board in 2025.

Adam Lane

Waymo

Manager, Public Policy (State & Local)

Adam Lane manages state and local public policy at Waymo, navigating complex legislative landscapes across mobility and sustainability. He brings extensive expertise in strategic coalition building, stakeholder engagement, and legislative analysis to advance autonomous commercial operations.

Daniel Berkovits

Via

SVP of Strategy

Dan Berkovits leads Via Strategies as Senior Vice President of Strategy, helping public agencies optimize connected mobility networks. Combining legal, urban planning, and infrastructure experience, he guides cities in integrating modern dynamic transit and tech-enabled fleet software.

Thank You to Our Confirmed Sponsors!

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Membership Renewal & 2026 Registration Pricing

Type	Membership	Online Reg.	On-Site	Day Pass
Regulator Members	$1,000	$1,399	$1,699	$475
Regulator (Non-Members)	—	$2,500	N/A	$990
Associate / Industry	$1,500	$2,500	N/A	$990
Academic / Non-Profit	—	$1,100	$1,399	$475

*Sponsorship is required for Associate and Industry members attending the event, except for first-time attendees who receive special pricing. Registration for first-time attendees is not available on-site. Contact info@iatr.global for details.

International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR)