Houston Auto Show returns this month as part of new innovative coalition

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The Houston Auto Show and Houston Boat Show (Houston AutoBoative) run from Jan. 2–Feb. 2. Photo via Houston Auto Show/Facebook

The Houston Auto Show and Houston Boat Show (Houston AutoBoative) have returned to NRG Center this month, and for the first time, the popular events are part of the Automotive Experience Alliance (AEA).

Launched in October, the AEA is a coalition of about 30 auto shows that aim to drive innovation and standardization throughout the auto show industry, according to a news release.

“Formed out of a year-long strategic planning project, the Automotive Experience Alliance unites industry leaders committed to pushing the boundaries of automotive innovation while driving interest in and education of the latest vehicles and technology via an exciting and interactive event designed for the consumer,” AEA Chairman Kevin Mazzucola said in a release. “The AEA will initially focus on defining a set of standards that all associated members will adopt, including transparency with third-party audited attendance numbers and expanded demographic and purchase intent data.”

Clean energy coalition Evolve Houston is sponsoring the Houston Auto Show and providing attendees with the opportunity to test drive the latest electric vehicle offerings during its outdoor ride and drive.

Additionally, the show promises sports cars, trucks, and boats, and it includes attractions like sightings of three space rovers from NASA.

From the auto industry, vehicles from Nissan, Rolls Royce, Subaru, Toyota, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Ineos, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, Lincoln, Lotus, Mazda, and Volkswagen are on display.

While forming the AEA, 10 U.S. auto shows conducted the Auto Show Insights Initiative to gain feedback from 14,908 auto show attendees about the events to help strengthen shows for members in the coalition and streamline processes for the industry.

Other AEA members include the Austin Auto Show, North Texas Auto Expo and the San Antonio Auto Show, as well as others around the country.

“We’re thrilled to join the Automotive Experience Alliance and contribute to a more innovative future for automotive shows nationwide,” Wyatt Wainwright, President of the Houston Auto Show and AEA Vice President, said in a news release. “Leading as an example, we’ve created the AutoBoative Show, a first-of-its-kind event designed to bring like minded individuals together, broadening our reach to include both auto and boating enthusiasts. The past three years of this collaboration showcases our commitment to evolving with consumer interests and providing a unique, immersive experience that resonates with a wider audience.”

Evolve Houston, which was launched as part of Houston’s Climate Action Plan and is one of the organizations leading the way in the EV space. The nonprofit set out to have 30 percent of the vehicles in Houston be electric by 2030 while improving regional air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Greater Houston area.

Houston AutoBoative runs from Jan. 2–Feb 2. Find more tickets and more information here.

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Houston-area logistics co. breaks ground on recycling center tied to circularity hub

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TALKE USA Inc., a Houston-area arm of German logistics company TALKE, broke ground on its new Recycling Support Center in Mont Belvieu Aug. 1.

The facility will process post-consumer plastic materials, which will then be further processed at Cyclyx's new Houston-based Circularity Center, a first-of-its-kind plastic waste sorting and processing facility that was developed through a joint venture between Cyclix, ExxonMobil and LyondellBasell.

The materials will ultimately be converted into recycling feedstock.

“We’re proud to break ground on a facility that reflects our long-term vision for sustainable growth,” Richard Heath, CEO and president of TALKE USA Inc., said in a news release. “This groundbreaking marks an important milestone for our team, our customers, and the Mont Belvieu community.”

The new facility was partially funded by Chambers County, according to the release. The Baytown Sun reports that the county put $1 million towards the construction of the project, which brings advanced recycling and mechanical recycling to the area.

TALKE USA said it plans to share more about the new facility and its impact in the future.

Meanwhile, the Houston-based Cyclyx Circularity Center (CCC1) is slated to open this year and is expected to produce 300 million pounds of custom-formulated feedstock annually. A second circularity center, CCC2, is expected to start up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the second half of 2026. Read more here.

8 Houston energy giants top global corporate startup index for 2025

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Eight major players in Houston’s energy industry rank among the world’s top 20 energy companies for corporate startup activity.

The inaugural Corporate Startup Activity Index 2025, published by StartupBlink, ranks global corporations by industry. The eight Houston-area employers fall into the index’s energy and environment category.

Researchers from StartupBlink, an innovation research platform, scored more than 370 companies based on three factors: corporate involvement in startup activity, startup success and ecosystem integration.

The eight Houston-area energy employers that landed in the energy and environment category’s top 20 are:

No. 3 BP. Score: 13.547. U.S. headquarters in Houston.
No. 5 Saudi Aramco. Score: 7.405. Americas headquarters in Houston.
No. 7 Eni. Score: 6.255. Headquarters of Eni U.S. Operating Co. in Houston.
No. 8 Shell. Score: 6.217. U.S. headquarters in Houston.
No. 11 Occidental Petroleum. Score: 5.347. Global headquarters in Houston.
No. 15 Engie. Score: 3.352. North American headquarters in Houston.
No. 17 Repsol. Score: 2.980. U.S. headquarters for oil and gas operations in The Woodlands.
No. 19 Chevron. Score: 2.017. Global headquarters in Houston.

“Building a startup is hard, and navigating corporate innovation can be just as complex. This ranking is a step toward making the connection between startups and corporations more transparent, enabling startups and corporations to collaborate more effectively for mutual success,” said Eli David Rokah, CEO of StartupBlink.

Salesforce topped the global index with a score of 380.090, followed by Intel, Google, Qualcomm, and Comcast.

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This article originally appeared on InnovationMap.com.

Houston nonprofit launches new energy education platform

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The Energy Education Foundation, a Houston-based nonprofit, will roll out a new app-based education platform just in time for back-to-school season.

Starting this fall, EEF will offer its new EnergyXP platform to students in middle schools and through community and education events across the country. The STEM-focused platform aims to boost exposure to oil and gas concepts and career paths, according to a release from the non-profit.

EnergyXP represents a fully redesigned, interactive version of the foundation's former Mobile Energy Learning Units, which now feature upgraded technology, enhanced curricula and app integration.

“EnergyXP marks the most recent development in our educational initiatives. We aim to inspire students nationwide to explore real-world energy concepts and careers,” Kristen Barley, executive director of the Energy Education Foundation, said in the release. “Our collaborative approach involves strong partnerships with educators, industry experts and local organizations to ensure that our programs are responsive to community needs. By prioritizing equitable access to quality STEM education, we can help build a more inclusive, future-ready energy workforce.”

The new platform offers 16 hands-on and digital STEM activities that introduce a variety of energy concepts through real-world applications while "showcasing the relevance of energy in everyday life," according to the release.

EEF will host two virtual sneak peeks of the platform on Aug. 7 and Aug. 8. Register here.

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