ATRA Powertrain Expo 2026 San Antonio – Complete Exhibitor and Attendee Guide
If your company operates in the transmission repair, powertrain, or automotive drivetrain space and you are planning to attend or exhibit at the ATRA Powertrain Expo 2026 in San Antonio, Texas, this is the most complete guide you will find before the event. We have covered everything — the dates, venue, registration pricing with full Early Bird and member rates, the Spanish Technical Track, the full technical session lineup across Wednesday, Thursday, and the special Friday 10L80 Pearl Day format, accommodation at the Marriott Rivercenter on the River Walk, the trade show schedule, and how to make sure your exhibit booth represents your brand powerfully when transmission professionals from around the world are walking that show floor.
At Interior Today LLC, we are a proud trade show booth builder for the Powertrain Expo. We design and build custom exhibit booths for companies at trade shows and industry events across the United States, and we are specifically listed as the official Trade Show Booth Builder contact for Powertrain Expo 2026. Whether you are a first-time exhibitor or a returning company looking to upgrade your booth presence, we are here to help you show up in San Antonio ready to win business.
For trade show booth builder questions, contact Interior Today LLC directly at hello@interiortoday.us or call (775) 382-5513.
What Is the ATRA Powertrain Expo?
The ATRA Powertrain Expo is the largest gathering of transmission repair specialists in the entire world. Hosted by GEARS Magazine and organized by ATRA — the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association — it is the premier international event for transmission and powertrain professionals, bringing together industry leaders, experts, shop owners, technicians, parts suppliers, and exhibitors from every corner of the globe for one of the most technically rich and commercially productive events in the automotive aftermarket.
Since its founding in 1993, Powertrain Expo has maintained one clear and focused mission: helping transmission shops attract and retain customers while empowering technicians to fix cars more efficiently and accurately. That mission sounds simple, but in an industry being transformed by software-driven modern transmissions, advanced programming requirements, electrification, and increasingly complex drivetrain architectures, staying current is harder than ever. Powertrain Expo is the event where the entire transmission industry comes together to meet that challenge head-on.
For suppliers, tool companies, software providers, parts manufacturers, and service companies targeting the transmission and powertrain repair market, Powertrain Expo is the most direct and qualified access to your exact customer base available anywhere in the industry.
Powertrain Expo 2026 Dates and Location
ATRA Powertrain Expo 2026 will take place August 26 through August 30, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas — happening before Labor Day for the first time, which as the organizers themselves note means there are genuinely no scheduling excuses this year.
Six days of hands-on training, live demonstrations, business growth sessions, networking, and the largest trade show floor in the powertrain world — all in one of the most enjoyable and vibrant convention cities in the United States.
San Antonio is not just a convenient location. It is a genuinely excellent host city for a trade event of this character. The River Walk, the rich history, the family-friendly attractions, the outstanding restaurant scene, and the warm Texas hospitality create an environment where attendees enjoy their time outside the sessions and show floor as much as they value the professional content inside.
Official Host Hotel — Marriott Rivercenter on the River Walk
ATRA Powertrain Expo 2026 will be held at the Marriott Rivercenter, located directly on San Antonio’s famous River Walk.
Marriott Rivercenter on the River Walk 101 Bowie St, San Antonio, TX 78205
This is not just a convenient choice — it is the ideal choice. Staying at the host hotel puts you steps from the Expo floor, the technical sessions, the evening receptions, and every major networking moment of the week. You will share elevators with shop owners, technicians, and industry innovators from around the world. Those hallway conversations, breakfast encounters, and lobby discussions are often as valuable as anything that happens inside a formal session.
Staying at the Marriott Rivercenter also means you avoid all daily commuting and parking logistics, you access discounted group rates available only to Expo attendees through the official room block, and you can step out after sessions onto the River Walk for dining, walking, and the kind of relaxed social connection that builds lasting professional relationships.
Rooms sell out fast. The recommendation from the organizers is clear — reserve early to guarantee your spot at the industry’s biggest event of the year.
Registration Pricing — Full Breakdown for 2026
ATRA Powertrain Expo 2026 offers three participation formats — Full Conference, Technical and Management Conference, and Trade Show Only — across four pricing periods. Here is the complete pricing breakdown so you can plan your registration budget accurately.
Early Bird Pricing — Register Before June 1, 2026
ATRA Member Full Conference — $600 ATRA Member Technical and Management Conference — $500 Non-Member Full Conference — $700 Non-Member Technical and Management Conference — $600
Standard Pricing — June 1 Through August 11, 2026
ATRA Member Full Conference — $700 ATRA Member Technical and Management Conference — $600 Non-Member Full Conference — $800 Non-Member Technical and Management Conference — $700
At-the-Door Pricing — August 12 Through End of Show
ATRA Member Full Conference — $800 ATRA Member Technical and Management Conference — $700 Non-Member Full Conference — $900 Non-Member Technical and Management Conference — $800
Home Court Advantage — Texas-Based ATRA Member Shops
If your shop is based in Texas, ATRA offers an exclusive Home Court Advantage discount that provides the deepest savings available at the event. These rates are available by phone only and require ATRA membership.
Full Conference — $550 Technical and Management Conference — $450
The message is clear on pricing. Register early as an ATRA member for the best possible rate. The savings between Early Bird member pricing and at-the-door non-member pricing can be substantial across a full team registration. If you are on the fence about ATRA membership, the registration savings alone are often worth the calculation.
For sponsorship and marketing opportunity questions, contact Sarah Janes at sjanes@atra.com or call (805) 604-2038. For general attendance and registration questions, call (805) 604-2000 or email membership@atra.com.
What Is New at Powertrain Expo 2026 — The Spanish Technical Track
One of the most significant additions to Powertrain Expo 2026 is the brand-new Spanish Technical Track — a dedicated technical education program delivered in Spanish for the growing Spanish-speaking transmission professional community.
This is a genuinely meaningful development for the industry. The transmission repair workforce in the United States and across Latin America includes a large and highly skilled Spanish-speaking professional population that has historically had to navigate English-language technical content. A dedicated Spanish Technical Track at the world’s largest transmission industry event reflects ATRA’s commitment to serving the full breadth of the transmission professional community.
For exhibitors, the Spanish Technical Track also signals an expanded and more diverse attendee pool — which means your exhibit booth at Powertrain Expo 2026 is being seen by a broader range of transmission professionals than at any previous edition of the show.
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The Full Technical Session Lineup — What Attendees Will Learn in 2026
The technical education program at Powertrain Expo 2026 is one of the most substantive in the event’s history, featuring expert speakers across Wednesday, Thursday, and a unique all-day Friday Pearl Day dedicated entirely to the 10L80 transmission. Here is the complete session breakdown.
Wednesday Technical Sessions — 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
The opening technical session on Wednesday evening covers one of the most pressing and practically damaging challenges facing transmission shops today.
Identifying Counterfeit Transmission Parts: The Rest of the Story Speaker: Bob White
Finding the right transmission parts is getting harder as online marketplaces have made it easier than ever for substandard, suspect, and outright counterfeit parts to enter the supply chain. Industry expert Bob White draws on his extensive experience spotting online sellers peddling fake components and shares the warning signs, identification methods, and shop policies that protect your business from the reputational and financial damage of a failed repair built on counterfeit parts. This session is essential for any shop owner or parts buyer who sources components online.
Thursday Technical Sessions
Thursday is the longest and most diverse education day of Powertrain Expo 2026, running from 8:00 AM through 6:30 PM with multiple parallel tracks giving attendees the ability to choose the sessions most relevant to their technical focus and skill level.
Programming the Powertrain: Unlocking Stellantis Transmission Success Speaker: Don Smith, Elitek — 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM
Modern transmissions are increasingly software-driven, and successful repairs depend as much on proper programming as on mechanical skill. This session covers Stellantis transmission programming using OEM tools from setup to execution, including all available programming options — in-house, mobile providers, remote solutions, and dealership support. Attendees leave with a practical framework for avoiding common programming pitfalls and delivering reliable post-repair results.
Misfire: Efficient and Effective Diagnosis Speaker: Eric Ziegler — 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM (two consecutive sessions)
Misfires are frequently confused with transmission or driveline issues, making this diagnostic skill directly relevant to transmission professionals. This course provides logical diagnostic procedures and effective use of scan tools and lab scopes to quickly identify whether a misfire originates from ignition, fuel, or mechanical system failures. The session runs across two time slots, giving attendees comprehensive coverage of both methodology and tooling.
Why the PowerLine Is Different: PC vs. CV Foundations and Technician Focused Diagnostics Speakers: Francisco Moreno and Buffy Schlak, ZF Aftermarket — 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
This session introduces the ZF PowerLine transmission by comparing passenger car and commercial vehicle transmission designs side by side — covering differences in torque capacity, shift strategy, and control logic that make commercial vehicle transmissions fundamentally different from what most shop technicians encounter daily. The session then moves into PowerLine-specific operation, common service issues, known failure patterns, and practical diagnostic approaches for real-world fleet environments. Attendees learn to identify major mechanical and electronic features, recognize failure patterns, and apply service best practices that support durability and long-term performance.
Vital Primary Ignition Amps Tests You Should Know Speaker: Dan Marinucci — 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
This seminar teaches attendees how to pinpoint common primary ignition failures using a lab scope and an inductive current clamp — a relatively low-cost tooling approach that delivers highly accurate results and finds problems that component-swap diagnostic methods frequently miss. Equally valuable, the test produces printable before-and-after results that serve as physical documentation for customer communication and shop record-keeping.
Hydraulic Controls: Following the Circuit for 8, 9 and 10 Speed TCC Control Speaker: Bob Warnke — 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Understanding the hydraulic architecture of today’s 8, 9, and 10-speed transmissions is mandatory for diagnosing Torque Converter Clutch issues correctly. Bob Warnke provides an in-depth examination of TCC hydraulic controls across these modern multi-speed units, covering hydraulic diagram reading and specific problem identification. Attendees leave with a confident diagnostic path for any TCC problem they encounter in the shop.
Blame it on the Tuner — Part 8 Speaker: Pepe Torres — 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Pepe Torres delivers his well-known recurring gearbox review covering the recurring failures and practical fixes that transmission shops need most. The 2026 session covers 10R140 overheating causes, repeat failure patterns on the 10L1000 and how to eliminate comebacks, 10L80 software tunes paired with valve-body kits, AISIN valve body wear diagnostics and repair options, the mechanics of setting hydraulic pressure versus applying electronic tuning, diagnosing diesel torque-converter stall, and common drivability issues that appear after overhauls.
Understanding and Measuring Current — Part 2 Speaker: Adam Robertson — 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM (two consecutive sessions)
Current measurement is one of the most powerful and underutilized diagnostic tools in a transmission technician’s arsenal. Adam Robertson’s advanced-level session covers current behavior in inductor circuits including motors, injectors, solenoids, and coils; the current ramp; magnetic field storage and release; differences in resistor and capacitive circuits including Piezo electric injectors; and how to use current measurement as a first diagnostic step before disassembly. Recommended for technicians of advanced skill levels who are ready to elevate their electrical diagnostic capability.
Audi S-Tronic DL382 — Operation and Service Speaker: Wes Dickens — 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
The Audi DL382 is a sophisticated 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that combines the efficiency of a manual gearbox with the shift speed of an automatic. Wes Dickens breaks down its dual-clutch design, electronic control systems, common error codes, and the complex oil change procedure. Technicians who complete this session can identify sections of the DL382, detect signs of vulnerability during service, explain the special functions of the ATF and MTF pumps, understand shift solenoid and valve operation, and execute the proper oil change procedure correctly.
Friday — The 10L80 Pearl Day (A Full Day Dedicated to One Transmission)
Friday at Powertrain Expo 2026 is entirely dedicated to one of the most commonly serviced modern transmissions — the General Motors 10L80. Four expert speakers — Aaron Golas, Bill Anthony, Jim Dial, and Mark Wheeler — each lead dedicated sessions covering a specific aspect of the 10L80 from diagnosis through rebuild, valve body service, and programming. Attending technicians rotate through all four sessions in small groups, ensuring every attendee receives comprehensive 10L80 coverage across all four disciplines.
The four Pearl sessions run from 8:00 AM to 12:45 PM with group rotations every 60 minutes.
Pearl 1 — 10L80: R&R, Diagnosis Before and After Speaker: Aaron Golas
When a vehicle equipped with a 10L80 enters the shop, what you do before picking up a wrench determines the success of the entire repair. Aaron Golas walks through the complete pathway from initial vehicle intake through diagnosis and R&R, covering the must-do tasks that make the job predictable, accurate, and profitable. This session is the essential foundation for any technician working on 10L80s in the shop.
Pearl 2 — 10L80 Build: Do’s and Don’ts Speaker: Bill Anthony
As the 10L80 ages and enters aftermarket shops for rebuilds, hidden pitfalls are costing shops time and money. Bill Anthony covers component inspection, known failure points, and proven solutions for building the 10L80 right the first time. Technicians leave this session with the specific knowledge needed to avoid the most common and costly rebuild mistakes.
Pearl 3 — 10L80 Valve Body: What You Need to Know Speaker: Jim Dial
Jim Dial covers all three generations of the 10L80 Non-ETRS and ETRS valve bodies and the key differences between them. The session explains the hydraulic changes between Gen 1 latch valves and Gen 2 boost ball type, how they work with Clutch Control Valves, and the specific hydraulic changes GM made in the Gen 3 valve body to eliminate wheel lockup. This is essential knowledge for anyone doing valve body work on 10L80s.
Pearl 4 — 10L80 Programming and Tuning Speaker: Mark Wheeler
Today’s transmissions require precise programming after every rebuild, and the 10L80 is no exception. Mark Wheeler provides essential, must-do programming information specific to this unit along with exclusive tuning tips that significantly increase durability and performance. Technicians leave with the confidence to program and tune with purpose rather than uncertainty.
Following the morning Pearl sessions, lunch runs from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM, the Trade Show opens from 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM, and the evening Reception runs from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM — making Friday both the most technically intensive day and one of the best networking days of the entire event.
The Trade Show Floor — Your Opportunity to Reach the World’s Transmission Professionals
The Powertrain Expo trade show floor is the largest gathering of transmission and powertrain suppliers, tool companies, software providers, and parts manufacturers in the world. This is not a general automotive aftermarket show. Every single person walking that floor is a transmission professional — a shop owner, a technician, a fleet manager, or a powertrain specialist with specific, active needs for the kinds of products and services that exhibitors at Powertrain Expo provide.
The trade show opens on Friday afternoon from 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM, immediately following the Friday Pearl Day sessions. This timing creates an exceptionally motivated and engaged buyer audience — technicians who have just spent an entire morning in high-level technical training are walking onto the show floor energized, thinking about their shops, their equipment needs, and the tools and products they need to implement what they just learned.
For suppliers in the transmission parts, diagnostic tool, software, equipment, and service categories, there is no more targeted or commercially motivated trade show audience available anywhere in the industry.
Why Your Booth Design Matters at Powertrain Expo 2026
The transmission professionals who attend Powertrain Expo are technically sophisticated and practically minded. They are shop owners who manage real businesses and technicians who work with their hands every day. They evaluate the products and companies they encounter at Powertrain Expo with the same practical, no-nonsense judgment they apply to everything in their work.
A generic, underprepared booth at Powertrain Expo sends a clear message to this audience — that your company either does not understand the importance of this event or does not invest seriously in its customer relationships. In a community as tight-knit and relationship-driven as the transmission industry, that impression is difficult to overcome.
On the other hand, a professionally designed and well-built exhibit booth at Powertrain Expo communicates exactly what this audience respects — quality, attention to detail, professionalism, and commitment. It creates a physical environment where product demonstrations happen naturally, where conversations flow comfortably, and where buyers feel confident that the company in front of them is serious about their business.
With the new Spanish Technical Track bringing a broader and more diverse attendee audience to Powertrain Expo 2026 than ever before, the opportunity to make a strong first impression on new buyer segments is greater this year than at any previous edition of the show.
Frequently Asked Questions — Powertrain Expo 2026
Q.What are the Powertrain Expo 2026 dates?
Ans. August 26 through August 30, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.
Q.Where is Powertrain Expo 2026 held?
Ans. At the Marriott Rivercenter on the River Walk, 101 Bowie St, San Antonio, TX 78205.
Q.What is the cheapest registration option for Powertrain Expo 2026?
Ans. Texas-based ATRA member shops registering by phone before June 1 qualify for the Home Court Advantage rate — $550 for Full Conference or $450 for Technical and Management Conference.
Q. What is the Spanish Technical Track?
Ans. A brand-new dedicated technical education track delivered in Spanish for Spanish-speaking transmission professionals — a first for Powertrain Expo 2026.
Q.What is the Friday Pearl Day format?
Ans. Friday is entirely dedicated to the 10L80 transmission, with four expert speakers covering R&R and diagnosis, build do’s and don’ts, valve body service, and programming. Attendees rotate through all four sessions in small groups throughout the morning.
Q.When does the trade show floor open?
Ans. Friday, August 30, from 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM, followed by the evening reception from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Q. How do I contact Powertrain Expo 2026 about building my booth?
Ans. Email hello@interiortoday.us or call (775) 382-5513.
How Interior Today LLC Builds Booths for Powertrain Expo 2026
Interior Today LLC is the officially listed Trade Show Booth Builder for Powertrain Expo 2026. We are not just a generic booth builder — we are specifically positioned to serve Powertrain Expo exhibitors with the expertise, the process, and the professional quality that this event demands.
We build custom trade show booths from the ground up for companies in the automotive, powertrain, and transportation technology sectors. For Powertrain Expo exhibitors specifically, we understand that your audience is technically minded, practically oriented, and looking for suppliers who demonstrate the same commitment to quality in their own presentation that they expect in the products they buy.
Here is exactly what working with Interior Today LLC looks like for your Powertrain Expo 2026 booth.
We begin with a consultation about your company — your products or services, your target customer profile among the Powertrain Expo attendee mix, your booth space dimensions, and what you want visitors to experience when they walk up to your space. For transmission parts companies, tool suppliers, software providers, and equipment manufacturers, the demonstration capability of the booth is often the central design consideration. We build demonstration areas, product display zones, and meeting spaces into every booth design that requires them.
We develop a fully custom 3D booth concept for your specific space at the Marriott Rivercenter venue, designed to communicate your brand clearly, attract the right visitors, and facilitate the product conversations your sales team needs to have.
We handle all fabrication, graphic production, logistics, and professional installation. Everything is produced in-house to our quality standards and ready before the trade show opens.
We manage complete dismantle after the show closes so your team can leave San Antonio focused on the follow-up conversations that convert Powertrain Expo introductions into long-term accounts.
For trade show booth builder questions, contact us directly at hello@interiortoday.us or call (775) 382-5513. We are ready to start building your Powertrain Expo 2026 booth today.
Start Planning Your Powertrain Expo 2026 Booth Today
Powertrain Expo 2026 runs August 26 through August 30 at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, Texas. The world’s largest gathering of transmission repair specialists. Six days of technical education, live demonstrations, business growth training, and the largest powertrain trade show floor on earth. And this year, happening before Labor Day — so there really are no excuses.
The exhibitors who show up at Powertrain Expo 2026 with professionally designed, brand-aligned, and demonstration-ready exhibit booths are the ones that the transmission professionals on that floor remember when they get back to their shops and start making purchasing decisions.
At Interior Today LLC, we are the official trade show booth builder for Powertrain Expo 2026, and we are ready to build your booth from the ground up — design, fabrication, graphics, installation, and dismantle — so your team arrives in San Antonio focused entirely on the business of the show.
Reach out to Interior Today LLC today. Tell us your booth space, your products, and what you want transmission professionals to experience when they visit your space. We will handle everything from there.
Interior Today LLC — Official Booth Builder for Powertrain Expo 2026. Let’s Build Something That Shifts the Industry.
Ready to build your Powertrain Expo 2026 exhibit booth at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio? Contact Interior Today LLC today at hello@interiortoday.us or (775) 382-5513 for a free consultation and custom quote.
