Last Chance!

IATR Early Bird Pricing Until Aug 15

Hotel Block Rate Deadline Until Aug 14

AV City: Autonomous Mobility

Las Vegas, Nevada | September 14–17, 2026

Vdara Hotel at ARIA | 2600 W Harmon Ave, Las Vegas, NV

This year’s IATR Conference will be held at the Vdara Hotel, a modern property located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. Known for its atmosphere and exceptional location, Vdara provides the ideal setting for an innovative and forward-looking conference experience built around multimodal safe and sustainable transportation.

The Vdara offers an excellent environment for government regulators, transportation professionals, technology companies and industry leaders to connect and collaborate.

After a full day of sessions and networking, attendees can enjoy the comfort of this beautifully designed hotel while remaining just minutes from everything Las Vegas has to offer. For our attendees, Vdara offers an ideal venue for a productive and enjoyable IATR experience.

IATR has worked hard to secure the best possible rates for conference attendees, with a variety of room options available. However, the number of rooms in the IATR room block is limited, and the discounted hotel block rate is only available through this Friday, August 14. We encourage attendees to make their reservations soon to take advantage of the conference rate and ensure they have a room at Vdara during the conference.

2026 Conference Hotel Block Pricing

Plus applicable resort fees and taxes

You can click here to access the hotel reservation portal, to see your options, and to book your room.

Image: Daily Line

Illinois rideshare drivers will soon have the ability to unionize and collectively bargain under a new law signed by Gov. JB Pritzker, a measure supporters say will give more than 100,000 Uber and Lyft drivers a greater voice in pay, benefits and working conditions.

The legislation, House Bill 5090, creates the Transportation Network Driver Labor Relations Act, establishing a framework for drivers working through app-based transportation companies to organize, select bargaining representatives and negotiate industrywide agreements with rideshare companies.

State Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago), the bill’s chief Senate sponsor, said rideshare drivers have increasingly faced lower wages, rising vehicle costs and a lack of workplace protections despite playing a critical role in transportation across Illinois.

“Rideshare drivers are the back-bones of our communities, getting our neighbors to their job, school or doctors’ appointments,” Villivalam said in a statement. “So many of our residents rely on rideshare drivers – meanwhile those driving are facing decreased wages, increased vehicle costs and unfair working conditions.”

Supporters of the legislation say the growth of companies such as Uber and Lyft has transformed the transportation industry while leaving many drivers with limited recourse to challenge pay policies, deactivations or other workplace issues.

Source: My State Line

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Image: Tech Crunch

Zoox just got the green light to do something no other US robotaxi operator has done: run a purpose-built car with no steering wheel or pedals and charge you for the ride. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration granted Amazon-owned Zoox a temporary exemption from several key Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards so those joystick-free pods can legally operate as commercial vehicles.

The approval opens the door to paid trips in Las Vegas as soon as August 10, 2026, but it is not a blank check for nationwide rollout. The exemption is time-limited, capped in vehicle volume, and wrapped in extra federal oversight. If you care about where US self-driving rules are heading, this is the test case regulators will be watching very closely.

NHTSA approved Zoox’s request under 49 CFR Part 555, the section of federal rules that lets the agency temporarily exempt vehicles from certain standards if they are testing new safety technology. Instead of a permanent certification, Zoox gets a two-year exemption window running from July 31, 2026 through July 31, 2028, with permission to deploy up to 2,500 of its automated shuttles per year.

The covered Zoox robotaxi drops familiar controls entirely, so NHTSA waived requirements tied to features a steering-wheel car would need. That list includes windshield wipers and defrosters, some lighting and mirror rules, rear visibility, manual brake controls, sun visors, specific windshield abrasion and distortion limits, and portions of FMVSS No. 208 on occupant crash protection related to airbag warning label placement. In exchange, the agency is using what it calls enhanced oversight for these exempt vehicles rather than treating them like any other certified car.

Source: Motor 1

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“The Evolving Regulatory Landscape for AVs IATR’s Guiding Principles for Robotaxi Testing & Deployment, and Autonomous Vehicle Policy Challenges & Solutions” will all be part of the bootcamp at the 39^th Annual IATR Conference on Monday September 14. Click here for more information

NYC Eyes First U.S. Transit Thermal Energy Network to Fight Subway Heat

With platform temperatures reaching 96 degrees, one of the hottest subway stations in New York City could soon become the testing ground for a first-of-its-kind effort to cool riders underground while recycling heat above ground. Mayor Mamdani, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced a partnership to study a new technology that could cool subway platforms and reuse excess heat to warm nearby city buildings during the winter. The proposed thermal energy network would be tested at the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall 4/5/6 and Chambers Street J/Z station complex. Officials said it would be the first project of its kind in a U.S. transit system.

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Shared Micromobility Posts New Records in North America

Usage shows sustained growth and relevancy as a key piece of the urban transportation ecosystem, buoyed by the ongoing deployment of electric bikes and scooters. Electric trikes hit Denver streets in July.

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Uber & Lyft's "Million-Dollar" Insurance Safety Net Is Quietly Disappearing

Every rideshare ad makes the same quiet promise: get in the car, and you're covered. Uber and Lyft both advertise policies worth up to $1 million, and most passengers assume that number applies the moment they open the app. It doesn't. Coverage in the rideshare industry is built in tiers, and the tier that actually protects you depends on a technicality most riders never think to ask about: what the driver was doing in the seconds before the crash.

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Alberta Shuts Down Trucking Company after Deadly Manitoba Crash

The Alberta government says it has shut down 20 trucking companies in the province since October, including one involved in a fatal collision in Manitoba. Transport Minister Devin Dreeshen says an investigation found Conquer Transportation Inc. had wilful and sustained non-compliance. The Manitoba government said the company was previously registered as Conquer Transport Inc. in the province before it lost its safety certificate in November 2021.

It says the company went on to re-register under the slightly different name in Alberta before being involved in the fatal crash in Brandon, Man., in May.

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Are People Actually Using Edmonton’s Bike Lanes?

Edmonton is no stranger to heated debate about bike lanes, and this summer the issue has made headlines. At a community meeting in Edmonton last month, community members who oppose a plan for new bike lanes in the Capilano neighbourhood were speaking with the province's transportation minister when a herd of cyclists rolled through. “You’re driving on a one-way road illegally. Do you realize that?” a man, standing on the street, shouted at pro-bike lane rally-goers who were travelling south on 50A Street. “You are too, idiots. Look at you,” one of the cyclists responded.

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Ottawa Invests $10.9M in Electric Vehicle Charging and Education Projects

The federal government is investing $10.9 million in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and education projects across Canada. Environment, Climate Change and Nature Minister Julie Dabrusin announced the funding July 30, saying it will support 22 projects aimed at expanding charging access and increasing public awareness of electric vehicles. Nearly $9 million will go toward nine infrastructure projects expected to install close to 400 electric vehicle chargers across the country. Another approximately $2 million will support 13 education and awareness projects focused on electric vehicles and charging.

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UK Government Funding Expands Autonomous Bus and Vehicle Trials

The UK Government has announced funding for projects developing autonomous vehicles across public transport, construction, airports and highway maintenance. The funding comes through the Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) Pathfinder programme, with nine projects receiving support through the first CAM Pathfinder: Enable and Demonstrate competitions. One of the projects is the expansion of the Connector autonomous bus service in Cambridge, which has completed more than 2,000 journeys across around 700 miles of public road since launching in June 2025.

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Leading Mobility Aid Manufacturer Launches Community Fund to Tackle Accessibility Barriers

A leading mobility aid manufacturer based in Brierley Hill, has launched a new community fund to support people with reduced mobility across Belfast. Sunrise Medical has launched its Community Fund to help break down the financial and practical barriers that can prevent people living with mobility challenges from fully participating in their communities.   Through a £5,000 fund, the initiative will support projects, opportunities and improvements that make community spaces and experiences more accessible, helping to create more wheelchair-friendly and inclusive environments while enabling more people to take part in the things that matter to them. 

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E-Mobility: Central Planning Goes Electric

German politicians have pumped billions into building charging infrastructure for electric cars. EV drivers, however, do most of their charging at home. A textbook example of cronyism and political stupidity.

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How India’s Electric Vehicle Ecosystem Is Driving a Green Mobility Revolution

India’s transition to electric mobility is gathering unprecedented momentum, transforming the country’s transportation landscape while strengthening economic growth, energy security and environmental sustainability. Backed by policy support, technological innovation and rising consumer adoption, electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a key pillar of India’s vision for a cleaner and more self-reliant future. Over the past decade, the country has witnessed remarkable growth in EV adoption.

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An In-Depth Look into Bolt's New Safety Drive

As safety continues to shape how South Africans move through their cities, Bolt is expanding rider identity verification through integration with South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs. The initiative forms part of a broader investment in accountability, technology and passenger protection. For millions of South Africans, ride-hailing has become an essential part of daily life, whether commuting to work, travelling after dark, attending classes or navigating busy urban centres. But alongside convenience, safety remains one of the biggest factors influencing how people choose to move around their cities.

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The Startup That Built Its Name on Gig Drivers Is Now Betting on a Future Without Drivers at All

When Moove launched in Lagos in 2020, its simple pitch was to help Nigerian drivers get cars. The company would finance vehicles, drivers would repay from their Uber earnings, and eventually they’d own the metal. Six years and 42,000 vehicles later, Moove is Africa’s most valuable mobility startup at USD 2.1 B. But its latest USD 250 M Series C round, led by Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala, has Africa’s newest unicorn shaping up to escape arguably the very thing that made Moove: drivers. 

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Image: Axios

Your next Uber could be electric. Ride-hail and taxi drivers are transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs), inspired by their more cost-effective operations and the increasing availability of incentives.

In Massachusetts, ride-hailing drivers on platforms such as Uber and Lyft can get up to $14,000 toward a new EV, or $6,500 for a used EV, Grecia Mayya, program manager for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, said. The center oversees the Ride Clean Mass program, which provides rebates to transportation network company (TNC) drivers to purchase a new or used EV.

“We really wanted to focus on TNC drivers, because they’re more likely to be low to moderate income ... and they drive more miles than the average driver,” Mayya said during a recent webinar hosted by the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) Education Fund.

For regions wanting to transition vehicle miles traveled (VMT) — a key metric for evaluating traffic congestion and intensity — to zero-emission vehicles (ZEV), electrified ride-hailing is a natural area to focus, advocates and experts said. These vehicles tend to log more miles than personally-owned vehicles.

“Electrifying even just one ride-share vehicle can bring about much bigger emissions reductions than electrifying a personal vehicle,” Mayya said.

The incentives in Massachusetts are not just for ride-hailing. Drivers serving the taxi and livery sector are eligible for up to $17,500 to be applied to a new EV, or $12,500 for a used EV. Drivers who want to enter into EV rental agreements can apply for $200 per week rebates for up to eight weeks. Incentive recipients must use the vehicle for ride-hailing for 12 months following the award.

Source: GovTech Magazine

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