The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, hosted the third event of its 2026 Sustainable Innovation Series (SIS) in collaboration with Formula E’s Change. Accelerate. Live in Shanghai, China, on Thursday 2 July, ahead of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. 

Following successful SIS events in Montreal and Le Mans, the FIA joined forces with Formula E and Bloomberg NEF to bring the SIS to Shanghai. Moderated by broadcaster Nicki Shields and Bloomberg NEF Intelligent Mobility Analyst Jinghong Lyu, the event offered a platform for leading voices from industry, technology, and motor sport to discuss the future of intelligent and sustainable mobility. 

Kicking off with a session on accelerating the global mobility transition, He Jiandong, the Vice President and Secretary General of the Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of China, set out the People's Republic of China's role in advancing sustainable innovation and the importance of global collaboration across electrification, AI and mobility technology. 

Discussions focused on next-generation battery technologies, autonomous driving, and how electric racing acts as a catalyst for innovation with experts from Formula E, the FIA, Xiaomi's Autonomous Racing Programme and Envision Racing. 

As the world's leading electric racing series, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship provided a perfect backdrop for these discussions. For over a decade, Formula E has served as a proving ground for electric powertrain and battery technologies, accelerating their development and transfer to the road cars of tomorrow. 

Links between these innovations and broader energy systems, infrastructure and urban transformation were explored in more depth with representatives from ABB, EVE Energy and Marelli, including a keynote from Bloomberg NEF, which explored how electrification is transforming global vehicle markets, energy demand, battery supply chains and CO₂ emissions. 

Willem Groenewald, FIA Secretary General for Automobile Mobility, Sustainability and Tourism, said: 

"China is a hub for innovation in mobility that will contribute to the evolution of the automobile and transport industry. Formula E is a powerful accelerator of these technologies, which have the potential to benefit millions of road users across the world."

Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer, Formula E, said: 

"Formula E was born out of a desire to prove what electric technology can do, and to show the thrill of electric racing. Bringing the Sustainable Innovation Series to a Formula E race weekend highlights the shared ambition of the FIA and Formula E to advance these technologies for a more efficient and sustainable future.” 

The next edition of the 2026 Sustainable Innovation Series will be held in Madrid in September, taking the discussion into new regions, industries and communities of practice. 

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact Maria Zander, Corporate Communications Manager: mzander@fia.com    

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally. It is a non-profit organisation committed to driving innovation and championing safety, sustainability and equality across motor sport and mobility.  

Founded in 1904, with offices in Paris, London and Geneva, the FIA brings together 246 Member Organisations across five continents, representing millions of road users, motor sport professionals and volunteers. It develops and enforces regulations for motor sport, including six FIA World Championships, to ensure worldwide competitions are safe and fair for all.