Motor sport and mobility policy rarely share the same stage, but the FIA’s Sustainable Innovation Series is making a habit of bringing them together. The third event of the 2026 series took place in Shanghai, held in collaboration with Formula E and Bloomberg NEF ahead of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race weekend.
Why Shanghai, Why Now
The choice of venue was deliberate. China sits at the centre of global electric vehicle development, battery manufacturing, and autonomous driving research, making it a logical setting for a conversation about the future of intelligent mobility. The event followed earlier SIS gatherings in Montreal and Le Mans, with a fourth edition planned for Madrid in September.
Broadcaster Nicki Shields and Bloomberg NEF Intelligent Mobility Analyst Jinghong Lyu moderated proceedings. He Jiandong, Vice President and Secretary General of the Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of China, opened with a session on China’s role in sustainable innovation and the importance of international collaboration across electrification, AI, and mobility technology.
What Was Actually Discussed
The agenda covered a broad range of topics, including next-generation battery technologies, autonomous driving development, and how electric racing accelerates innovation that eventually reaches production vehicles. Representatives from Formula E, Xiaomi’s Autonomous Racing Programme, and Envision Racing contributed to those sessions.
A Bloomberg NEF keynote explored how electrification is reshaping global vehicle markets, energy demand, battery supply chains, and CO₂ emissions. ABB, EVE Energy, and Marelli also participated, with discussions extending into energy infrastructure and urban transformation, the wider ecosystem that electric mobility depends on.
Formula E’s role as a proving ground was a recurring theme. The series has operated for over a decade as a development platform for electric powertrain and battery technology, with the stated aim of accelerating the transfer of those advances to road cars.
The Bigger Picture
FIA Secretary General for Automobile Mobility, Sustainability and Tourism Willem Groenewald described China as a hub for mobility innovation with the potential to benefit millions of road users globally. Formula E Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer Alberto Longo framed the Shanghai event as an expression of shared ambition between the FIA and Formula E to advance sustainable technology.
The series is still finding its audience, but the consistent thread across all three 2026 events is the argument that motor sport is not peripheral to the mobility transition, it is an active contributor to it. Whether that argument lands with policymakers and engineers beyond the room remains to be seen. The Madrid event in September will be the next opportunity to test it.
