The 28th ESV Conference will take place at Exhibition Place Toronto in Canada from May 12-15, 2026.

A Brief History of the Conference

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the government agency that implements the International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, commonly referred to as ESV. This conference convenes biennially, with representatives from participating international governments within the transportation sector determining the venue. 

Each conference is hosted by an ESV member country, and location selection typically alternates between America, Europe and Asia. ESV attendees include members of governments; motor vehicle manufacturers; motor vehicle equipment suppliers; global safety researchers; motor vehicle safety, medical, insurance, legal and policy professionals; consumers; academia; students; and international media. 

Origins 

The ESV program originated in 1970 under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society and was implemented through bilateral agreements between the United States, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan and Sweden. The participating nations had agreed to develop experimental safety vehicles to advance state-of-the-art technology in automotive engineering and to meet periodically to exchange information on their progress. Since its inception, the number of international partners has grown to include the governments of Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, the Republic of Korea and the European Commission. 

Evolution

In 1971, the conference was named the International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles. Over time, the focus of the conference shifted from the development of experimental safety vehicles to addressing broader issues in roadway safety and stronger international cooperation in reducing motor vehicle fatalities and injuries. These issues include program advances in areas such as advanced driver assistance systems, automated driving systems, crash safety, biomechanics and safety data evaluation.
In 1991, the participating governments agreed to change the name of the conference to, the International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles to reflect the broader focus. The 14th ESV conference, held in Munich, Germany, in 1994, was the first conference in which the new name was used.

The 25th ESV conference was held for the first time in Detroit, Michigan – “Motor City” itself. This event brought together many key stakeholders in vehicle safety to share knowledge, listen, engage, connect and collaborate with global counterparts. It brought together a wide range of panelists, speakers, authors and exhibitors. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in ride and drive demonstrations at Wayne State University. Over 30 technical exhibitors also provided attendees a firsthand experience of current and future safety innovations.

The most recent ESV conference – the 27th – held in Yokohama, Japan, April 3-6, 2023, marked the 50th anniversary of the conference and celebrated the unique opportunity to exchange ideas and strengthen global collaboration to improve vehicle safety technologies and standards. Growth of the automotive industry worldwide has brought new partners in pursuit of enhancing global vehicle safety. 

Future

With a history spanning over 50 years, ESV remains dedicated to staying at the forefront of technical innovation, continuously seeking new avenues to advance safety. A cornerstone of the ESV program is its technical agenda, featuring author presentations that consistently push the boundaries of vehicle safety exploration, particularly in the realm of vehicle safety technology. As ESV approaches its sixth decade, organizers continue to strive to present participants with the latest achievements in the field of motor vehicle safety. 

Transport Canada will host the 28th ESV conference in Toronto, May 12-15, 2026. Work is underway right now to make the next ESV another informative and inspiring vehicle safety experience for all attendees. 

Government Focal Point Members by Country

27th ESV  Proceedings - Yokohama, Japan, April 3-6, 2023
26th ESV  Proceedings - Eindhoven, Netherlands, June 10-13, 2019
25th ESV  Proceedings - Detroit, Michigan USA, June 2017
24th ESV  Proceedings - Gothenburg, Sweden, June 8-11, 2015
23rd ESV  Proceedings - Seoul, Republic of Korea, May 27-30, 2013
22nd ESV Proceedings - Washington, D.C., June 13-16, 2011
21st ESV Proceedings - Stuttgart, Germany, June 15–18, 2009
20th ESV Proceedings - Lyon, France, June 18-21, 2007
19th ESV Proceedings - Washington D.C. June 6-9, 2005
18th ESV Proceedings - Nagoya, Japan, May 19-22, 2003
17th ESV  Proceedings - Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 4 - 7, 2001
16th ESV Proceedings - Windsor, Ontario, Canada, May 31- June 4, 1998
Historical ESV Proceedings