Self-Driving Industry Awards 2026 launched

Cars of the Future competition is open for entries

Cars Of The Future editor Neil Kennett with a Starship delivery robot at SDIA25

Cars Of The Future editor Neil Kennett with a Starship delivery robot at SDIA25

Early bird entries are now open for the fourth annual Self-Driving Industry Awards, which celebrate excellence in automated mobility, in the UK and internationally.

Presented by Carsofthefuture.co.uk, the 2026 awards will follow the same peer-led format as previous years, with all entrants gaining the right to nominate deserving people and products for the top honours.

The reigning Self-Driving Vehicle of the Year is the Enviro100AEV bus by Alexander Dennis and Fusion Processing, which is currently taking passengers in a world-leading trial in Cambridge.

Editor of Cars of the Future, Neil Kennett, said: “SDIA26 promises to be the best yet. In America and China, the robotaxi market is maturing, with multiple operators going head-to-head. In the UK, we are being more cautious, but the big players are looking to deploy in London this year. Robotaxis aside, there are some fantastic examples of automation in public transport and off-road, notably at ports and airports. As always, we continue to provide scrutiny and highlight quality.”

The competition features 12 categorie:s 

• Aftermarket
• Consumer Service
• Design
• Fleet Operator
• Hardware
• Insurance
• Legal
• Research
• Software
• Testing
• Trust
• V2X. 

As last year, SMEs and start-ups can apply under ‘Launchpad’ for a reduced fee.

The deadline for entries is 5pm UK-time on 11 September 2026, with all shortlisted candidates receiving an invitation to the glittering awards ceremony at the Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate in October.

Carsofthefuture.co.uk/awards