Joining in Car Body Engineering North America 2026

JOINING IN CAR BODY ENGINEERING CONFERENCE NORTH AMERICA

From megacastings to new battery architectures, from advanced materials to AI-driven production – the automotive industry is undergoing fundamental changes, which continue to reshape the industry. It is often the joining solutions that determine whether these changes can be realized efficiently, reliably, and at scale. 

About the conference

Each year, engineering experts from all over the world meet in Rochester, Michigan in order to share the latest technical progress and application-oriented innovations in joining technology. The focus is on series production relevant to the North American market.  

In cooperation with:

#ACJoiningUS

Call for Speakers

Your speaking opportunity

We are looking for presentations that highlight technical progress, practical applications, and innovative approaches in the following areas: 

  • Reliable and Cost-effective Joining Solutions for Different Materials, Material Combinations & Structures 

    • Castings, megacastings, and joining them to other materials
    • Challenging dissimilar material combinations 
    • Next generation high strength steels 
    • Casting-to-casting applications 

     

  • Joining and Sealing Solutions for Battery Cases and Vehicle Electrification 

    • Optimizing the mix of joining technologies for EVs 
    • Structural joining challenges in EV architectures 
    • Battery cases (panel or casting-based) and covers 

     

  • Process Innovation & Quality 

    • Advanced process simulation and digital validation of joining operations 
    • AI- and data-driven quality assurance 
    • Non-destructive testing technologies 
    • Novel concepts to increase production speed, robustness and cost-efficiency 
    • Integration of joining innovations into digital and highly automated production environments
    • Influence of casting tool design and release agents on joinability 

Interested speakers are kindly requested to submit an abstract via the online form on our website

Based on your input, we will evaluate your suggestion. Please note that all presentations have to be submitted and held in English. Presentation time is 25 min, plus 5 min Q&A. Speakers are invited to the full conference.

IMPORTANT DATES
  • Deadline to submit an abstract/presentation proposal: October 13, 2025
  • Notification of acceptance: Beginning of November 2025
  • Publication of conference program: End of November 2025

Insightful Technical Presentations

Our line up of industry experts will share their knowledge and vision, shedding light on the latest advancements and emerging trends.

Outstanding Networking Opportunities

Connect with Automotive engineers, industry pioneers, and decision-makers from leading automotive companies and suppliers worldwide.

Accompanying Exhibition

Gain access to cutting-edge products and services that are relevant for car body engineering.

Meet the Speakers

Get in contact with renowned speakers and thought leaders. Take the unique opportunity to personally engage with them.

Conference Program

The conference program will be published at the end of 2025.

    Participants

    International OEM Advisory board

    The Automotive Circle and OEM Advisory Board of the Joining in Car Body Engineering North America, consisting of experts from the following brands and companies:

    • Car body engineers, managers and employees of OEM
    • Suppliers and service providers
    • Experts from institutes

    All responsible for joining projects in the areas of pre-development, development, planning and production.

    Exhibition & Sponsoring

    Become a sponsor or exhibitor

    Take advantage of the high coverage of the Automotive Circle and profit from the sponsoring options before and during the events. Show your competence and services, matching the conference subjects, to the numerous car body engineers of international OEM. Thus, you are strengthening your brand awareness in the automotive industry!

    Come on board as an exhibitor or sponsor and benefit from this excellent platform to strongly promote your company’s capabilities as a reliable supplier!

    If you have any question or want to request additional information, please contact Ms. Frauke Haentsch .

    Exhibition and sponsoring options will follow at this place soon!

     

    More Information

    Super Early Bird

    Participation fee

    1.695 USD*

    for registrations received until November 24, 2025

    Early Bird

    Participation fee

    1.895 USD*

    for registrations received until January 24, 2026

    Standard

    Participation fee

    2.195 USD*

    for registrations received after January 24, 2026

    *all prices net

    Detailed information available under Prices, Terms & Conditions.

    Organizer

    Vincentz Network GmbH & Co. KG
    Plathnerstrasse 4c
    30175 Hannover, Germany

    T +49 511 9910-373
    T +1 313 288 0905 (US)
    www.automotive-circle.com
    paula.reisner@vincentz.net

    Date & Venue

    Date: February 24 – 25, 2026

    Venue:
    Royal Park Hotel
    600 E University Drive
    Rochester, Michigan 48307
    United States

    Phone: +1 248-652-2600
    Toll Free: +1 800-339-2761

    www.royalparkhotel.net

    Accommodation is available at the conference hotel.

    We kindly ask you to make your own hotel reservation at the conference hotel. Rooms rates are available at $192 exclusive of tax and fees per night. More reservation information will be available soon.

    Participation Fee

    Super Early Bird-Rate
    1.695,00 USD*
    for registrations received by november 24, 2025
    Early-bird
    1.795,00 USD*
    for registrations received by january 24, 2026
    Standard
    2.195,00 USD*
    for registrations received after january 25, 2026

    *All prices net

    Students will get 50 % discount on standard prices on presentation of a valid student ID.

    GROUP BOOKING DISCOUNTS:
    Benefit from our group booking rates and get a 10% discount when registering 3 or 4 people or 15% discount when registering 5 or more people from the same company at the same time. The discount refers to the respective participant fee. You can choose this option during the registration process.

    The access data for the digital conference participation will be send out via E-Mail approx. one week prior the conference. The prerequisite for this is that all payments have been recieved in full.

    Participation fee includes

    On site participation: Fees including full conference participation, incl. conference materials and list of delegates, the authority for downloading the presentation on the internet, luncheons, catering, the participation in the evening networking event and on-demand access to the presentation videos for 2 weeks after the conference.

    Registration

    Registration is preferably done via the event’s website, alternatively by e-mail or regular mail. The confirmation of participation and invoice will be sent via e-mail. After receipt of payment your registration becomes binding and you will receive a corresponding confirmation of participation. Without this confirmation, there is no claim to participation in the booked event. Registrations will be considered in the order in which they are received, except EuroCarBody. However, the number of participants is limited in all cases.

    Conference Language

    The conference language is English.

    Cancellations

    Fees will be refunded in full if notice of cancellation is received by January 24, 2026 Please understand that event preparation and organization involve financial and human resources. Therefore a fee of 50% of the participation fee will be charged, if the notification of cancellation is received after January 24, 2026. Should notification reach us after Febraury 11, 2026, or in case of non-participation, 100% of the participation fee will be charged. Substitutions of delegates may be made at any time.

    Cancellations and changes must be made in writing and will be confirmed by the organizer. Cancellations due to health reasons can be cancelled free of charge at any time with a medical certificate. If a participant is demonstrably unable to attend due to travel restrictions, he/she has the option of converting the attendance participation into a digital participation (if this is offered). Any cost differences will be reimbursed.

    The participant undertakes to follow the instructions of the organizer and the venue. Failure to do so may result in exclusion from the event.

    The organizer reserves the right to change the program or to cancel the event in the event of special circumstances (important reason). In particular, the organizer is entitled to take such measures in cases of force majeure, due to official orders, in the event of a situation endangering the life, body or health of the participants. In these cases, the organizer shall not be obliged to pay damages and/or reimbursement of expenses to the participants. This applies in particular to any cancellation fees incurred by third parties (e.g. hotel bookings, train or flight tickets).

    If the digital event has to be canceld by the organizer due to insufficient number of participants, technical complications or due to illness of one or more speakers, already paid participation fees will be refunded in full. Further claims do not exist.

    Invitation Letters

    Please contact us if you need invitation letters for visa requirements. We will be happy to assist with this after we have received your registration. There requests are usually handled by us within 2 working days and we typically send the invitation letters out as a PDF file via eMail. If you require an original letter we can send it out by regular mail. Please understand that if you need letters sent via express mail that we have to further the delivery and handling costs to you.

    Program Changes

    Automotive Circle reserve the right to revise event content and change implementation tools. There is no claim to a specific lecture, workshop or references. Registered trademarks: No guarantee is given that the products, processes and other names mentioned are free of third-party property rights.

    Data Protection

    As participant of an event, you agree that data such as company, address (zip code, city, country), first name, name and job function of the attendee will be published on the list of participants. The list of participants is available to all participants in digital form. The list of participants could also be used by sponsors and exhibitors for advertising purposes. Objection against publication and circulation of your data may be made at any time until 3 weeks prior to the event and has to be made in writing to the organizer. The address data are processed for customer service and information purposes in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Company’s name, city and country might be published on the Internet as reference for upcoming Automotive Circle events. Personal data will be forwarded to the local health authority on request.

    Pictures, Videos & Recordings

    By registering you understand that your participation and attendance at the event may be videotaped, filmed and/or audio recorded. You agree that the recording may be used for any lawful purposes that Vincentz Network, or its designees, in their sole discretion, may determine.

    Picture credits

    Vincentz Network

    Miscellaneous

    With your binding registration you agree that film, image, word and sound recordings may be made of you during the event. These recordings may be used without restriction by Vincentz Network or authorized parties in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

    Also have a look at our Privacy Policy.

    Hannover, Germany, September 2025.

    Review

    Your Contacts

    Dr. Rebecca Pawlik-Tacke

    Presidium

    +49 511 9910-318

    Frauke Haentsch

    Director Sales

    +49 511 9910-340

    Paula Reisner

    Senior Event Manager

    +49 511 9910-373