AI and Self-Driving Cars Take Center Stage at CES as Automakers Shift Focus from EVs
8 Sources
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At CES, EVs take a backseat to robotaxis and AI
It says a lot about the current moment when one of the world's largest EV sellers shows up at the world's biggest electronics show to announce not a new, more affordable model or a cool futuristic concept car, but a humanoid robot. And one we've seen already. Hyundai's decision to use its CES
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Self-driving tech, AI take center stage at CES as automakers dial back EV plans
LAS VEGAS, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Autonomous driving technology is expected to dominate the CES trade show in Las Vegas this week as investors bet that artificial intelligence will invigorate an industry beset by slow progress, high costs, safety incidents and regulatory scrutiny. Just as automakers
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CES 2026: The auto industry's next battle is intelligence, not horsepower
As the transformation of the auto industry comes into sharper focus, CES in Las Vegas has quietly evolved from a technology showcase into a bellwether for the global car business. In recent years, CES was often jokingly described as a "world-class auto show," dominated by demonstrations of the
[4]
AI helps pave the way for self-driving cars
Las Vegas (AFP) - Even if Elon Musk's dream of robotaxis for everyone is a long way off, sleek electric cars powered by artificial intelligence packed the Consumer Electronics Show, promising to liberate people from the tedium of driving. Letting go of the steering wheel is no longer a fantasy:
[5]
Self-driving tech, AI take center stage at CES as automakers dial back EV plans
Autonomous driving technology is expected to dominate the CES trade show in Las Vegas this week as investors bet that artificial intelligence will invigorate an industry beset by slow progress, high costs, safety incidents and regulatory scrutiny. Just as automakers have hit the brakes on electric
[6]
CES 2026 highlights Korea's tech challenges in era of physical AI - The Korea Times
LAS VEGAS -- The CES 2026 tech fair has raised critical alarm bells for Korea's tech firms, signaling that long-term growth cannot rely merely on superficial hype over artificial intelligence (AI) and software in this rapidly evolving era of physical AI. As expected, AI took center stage at this
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Concept cars eclipsed by AI hype at CES - The Korea Times
LAS VEGAS -- The global artificial intelligence (AI) frenzy has stolen the spotlight at the mobility zone at CES 2026, once dominated by concept cars and hardware that assists drivers. Fewer carmakers were seen promoting futuristic concept vehicles, apparently due to this rapid technological
[8]
Self-driving tech, AI take center stage at CES as automakers dial back EV plans
LAS VEGAS, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Autonomous driving technology is expected to dominate the CES trade show in Las Vegas this week as investors bet that artificial intelligence will invigorate an industry beset by slow progress, high costs, safety incidents and regulatory scrutiny. Just as automakers
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CES 2026 marks a turning point for the auto industry as AI and autonomous driving technology dominate the Las Vegas trade show. With automakers dialing back EV plans amid slowing demand, the focus has shifted to robotaxis, software-defined vehicles, and AI assistants. Companies like Nvidia, Hyundai, and Mercedes are betting on intelligence over horsepower to drive the future of mobility.
Auto Industry Shift Takes Center Stage at CES
CES 2026 in Las Vegas has revealed a stark transformation in the auto industry's priorities. Where electric vehicles once dominated the trade show floor, AI and self-driving cars now command attention as automakers dial back EV plans and redirect investments toward autonomous driving technology
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. Hyundai's decision to showcase Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robot during its keynote, rather than unveiling a new electric vehicle, signals how dramatically the industry landscape has shifted1
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Source: Korea Times
The pullback on electric vehicles reflects broader market realities. Growth in global EV sales is expected to slow significantly in 2026 as China winds down subsidies, Europe wavers on its ban of gas cars, and the Trump administration reverses policies designed to boost EV adoption
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. Most major automakers have no plans to launch new EVs this year, a stark difference from previous CES events where battery-powered concepts dominated2
.AI Takes Center Stage as Intelligence Replaces Horsepower
The future of mobility now centers on software rather than hardware specifications. Range figures and acceleration times have faded into the background as automakers focus on making autonomous driving practical rather than aspirational
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. Ford announced plans to fully integrate AI assistants into its mobile applications by 2026, with "eyes-off" autonomous capability targeted for 20283
.Nvidia emerged as a central player, with CEO Jensen Huang unveiling Alpamayo, an AI platform specifically designed for autonomous driving that will power Level 2++ driver-assist features in Mercedes CLA models in the United States this year
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. Huang declared this a "ChatGPT moment for physical AI," enabling cars and robotics to interact with the real world independently4
. The Alpamayo system brings reasoning to autonomous vehicles, allowing them to think through rare scenarios and explain their driving decisions4
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Source: Japan Times
Robotaxis and Software-Defined Vehicles Drive Investment
Robotaxis represent one of the most visible manifestations of this shift. Uber used CES to debut a Lucid Gravity robotaxi, aiming to deploy a fleet in San Francisco later this year
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. Tesla's launch of a small robotaxi service with safety monitors in Austin, Texas, along with quicker expansion by Waymo, has breathed new life into the industry despite high investments, regulatory challenges, and safety incidents2
.Software-defined vehicles have moved from buzzword to mature commercial architecture. Great Wall Motor showcased production models featuring its ASL 2.0 intelligent agent and full-scenario VLA large model
3
. Geely unveiled what it described as a mass-production-ready L3 autonomous driving solution and an "ultra-humanlike" smart cockpit3
. Hyundai announced plans to begin mass production of Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robot in 2028 at its Georgia plant, targeting 30,000 units annually for hazardous and repetitive manufacturing tasks3
.Related Stories
Driver-Assist Systems Push Boundaries as Level 4 Autonomy Faces Hurdles
While fully autonomous Level 4 autonomy remains years away from mass-market availability, driver-assist systems are advancing rapidly
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. Companies are focusing on Level 2 assisted driving, where the driver must be ready to take control, but automation is extending further thanks to AI advances that make computers more efficient with fewer expensive sensors4
.Regulatory approval and societal acceptance remain roadblocks to widespread adoption of fully autonomous vehicles. "From a technology standpoint, it is there," said Pier Paolo Porta, marketing director at Ambarella. "But from a legal and from a liability standpoint, it is still a gray area"
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. Only Tensor, a Silicon Valley start-up, presented a Level 4 passenger car at CES, with a first model expected in coming months and an estimated price tag around $200,0004
.Strategic Capital Allocation Reflects Industry Priorities
Investors are betting that AI will invigorate an industry beset by slow progress, high costs, and regulatory scrutiny
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. "This year you will see more and more focus on AI and autonomous," said C.J. Finn, U.S. automotive industry leader for PwC. "That connectivity on autonomous, I do think will be front and center"2
.Automakers are being strategic about capital investments after absorbing billions of dollars in write-offs due to changes in EV strategies
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. They're also managing the effects of high tariffs on auto and auto part imports imposed by President Donald Trump, with many choosing to absorb costs rather than pass them to customers, adding pressure on profit margins2
. "The main theme that we actually expect to see also popping up at CES is around cost and cost competitiveness," said Felix Stellmaszek, global leader of the automotive and mobility sector at Boston Consulting Group2
.The shift from hardware to software, from energy to intelligence, positions the automobile as an intelligent terminal that senses, reasons, and proactively serves its users
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. Car companies believe they need an AI strategy to be taken seriously by Wall Street's investors, making it no longer enough to just sell cars1
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