Audi deepens its commitment to sustainability and a connected future. The four-ring brand embraced the essence of its summit, shifting from pure tech and brand muscle to emphasize people, the planet, and intelligent mobility that serves users.
This year’s edition took place in Madrid under the banner Audi Summit for Progress. Ideas for Starting the Future, a clear invitation to reveal the core values behind new mobility. The goal was to illustrate how mobility, sustainability, technology, and design can spark change and shape what comes next.
The day unfolded in three segments, each presenting visions for what lies ahead and what direction should be pursued. The keynote featured Peter H. Diamandis, founder and president of the XPRIZE Foundation and co-founder of Singularity University, who underscored the rapid pace of global change. “The world is moving fast, and every step we take is part of an exponential arc,” he stated. Diamandis argued that great problems create equally great opportunities.
Across the sessions, topics ranged from the environment of the future and sustainable mobility to a strategic view of mobility itself. Carlo Van DeWeijer of the AI Systems Institute, Henrik Wenders of Audi AG Marketing, Man Baidavi, GQ Global Assistant Editor, and Sarah Werner, CEO and Co-Founder of Cocunat, shared perspectives on forming new alliances and driving creativity within Audi to propel electromobility forward. Other notable voices included Sally Uren, CEO of Forum for the Future, Caita Montserrat, CX Audi Spain Director, and Eneko Atxa, a renowned five-star chef, who contributed as star speakers.
The final segment focused on ideas for starting the future. Dimas Gimeno, co-founder of Wow and former president of El Corte Inglés, Owen Rogers, Ideo Portfolio Partner and CEO, Cesar Muntada, Head of Lighting Design at Audi AG, and Inma Bermudez, an industrial designer, explored how technique and technology can serve a sustainable transformation of the planet. The emphasis on impact and practical design underscored a drive to position Audi at the forefront of technology, reinforcing its ambitions and seeking a new dimension for what lies ahead.
Jose Miguel Aparicio, Audi Spain director, offered an upbeat assessment of the conference he moderated. Monica Carrillo highlighted the participation of more than 300 attendees in person and over 2,500 connected virtually. “Sustainability cannot be reversed,” Aparicio commented. “Companies must cultivate an optimistic environment amid rapid changes. This is where we stand, because the future is a matter of attitude.”