Acoustics and NVH are amongst the prime indicators of vehicle quality and refinement. They hence enjoy an increasing focus in automotive research and development, at a time of fundamental changes in powertrain configurations. Vehicle architectures, powertrain systems and design paradigms have been globally challenged in recent years by emissions legislation aimed at promoting energy-efficient vehicles. In the very near future, the same or even higher NVH performance levels will need to be achieved with lightweight structures, downsized and turbocharged engines, or even alternative powertrains. The international Automotive Acoustics Conference provides an essential global forum for the exchange of information.

The international Automotive Acoustics Conference is a biennial global forum for the exchange of information and networking among engineers engaged in further improving the NVH characteristics of passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The principal themes of the conference explore the technological innovations as well as the market and regulatory demands that are driving the state of the art in the automotive industry. Furthermore, the conference caters to the needs of researchers and developers alike by addressing growing expectations with regard to vehicle performance and sustainability. It also touches upon the particular challenge that developments in one area of the car often also affect its acoustic characteristics – especially as perceived by the end user.

As the increasing electrification of mobility continues to reshape the acoustic landscape in the automotive industry, high standards for noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) remain critical to vehicle quality and refinement. In this context, sustainable and smart noise control solutions are key to enhancing the NVH performance of both passenger cars and commercial vehicles while minimizing their environmental impact.