3 – 6 June | Shanghai, China – International Road Federation (IRF) Director General Gonzalo Alcaraz and Head of Advocacy and Outreach Alice Yiu participated in Intertraffic China 2026 in Shanghai, one of Asia’s leading platforms for road infrastructure, traffic management, road safety and smart mobility solutions.

Bringing together over 15,000 visitors from over 80 countries, Intertraffic China serves as a key meeting point for industry leaders, policymakers, technology providers and transport professionals from across Asia and beyond. The event offers a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge, explore emerging technologies and foster international partnerships that advance safer, smarter and more sustainable mobility systems.

As part of the conference programme, DG Alcaraz delivered a presentation entitled “From Connected Roads to Cooperative Mobility: European Approaches to Vehicle-Road Collaboration and Safe Automated Driving”.

The presentation highlighted lessons learned from several European research and innovation projects supported by the European Union, showcasing how connected and automated mobility is evolving through closer collaboration between vehicles, infrastructure operators, cities, telecommunications providers and regulators.

Drawing on IRF’s involvement in major Horizon Europe initiatives, DG Alcaraz presented insights from projects including Hi-Drive, EvoRoads and Mobilities for EU, each of which is helping shape the future of connected, automated, and sustainable transport systems.

A central theme of the presentation was the growing importance of intelligent infrastructure in enabling safe automated driving. Through projects such as EvoRoads, Europe is developing AI-powered road monitoring systems, digital twins, predictive maintenance tools and real-time risk assessment services that support both road operators and connected vehicles. These technologies contribute to the European Union’s Vision Zero ambition by improving infrastructure safety while preparing road networks for future mobility services.

The presentation also highlighted how Urban Mobility Labs across Europe are testing innovative solutions in real-world environments, including autonomous electric buses, hydrogen-powered transport, vehicle-to-grid charging systems, intelligent logistics solutions and integrated digital mobility platforms.

Addressing the Chinese transport community, Gonzalo emphasised several strategic lessons emerging from the European experience. These include the importance of infrastructure digitalisation, real-time road intelligence, interoperability standards, cross-sector collaboration and long-term investment frameworks that enable connected and automated mobility to move beyond pilot projects and into large-scale deployment.

The session also explored opportunities for international cooperation and cross-learning. With China’s leadership in artificial intelligence, 5G connectivity, robotics and smart city development, significant opportunities exist for knowledge exchange between European and Chinese stakeholders working toward safer and more efficient transport systems.

Throughout the event, IRF engaged with industry leaders, government representatives, technology providers and mobility experts from across the region.

Their participation reinforced IRF’s commitment to fostering international dialogue and promoting innovative solutions that improve road safety, infrastructure resilience and sustainable mobility worldwide.

As transport systems become increasingly connected and automated, platforms such as Intertraffic China play a vital role in bringing together global expertise and accelerating the deployment of technologies that will shape the future of mobility.