Connected Cars to Strut Their Stuff at CES

Automakers will be among the more than 2,200 exhibitors displaying their latest technology at CES, running Jan. 5-8. The annual tech event is to be held in person in Las Vegas, with digital access provided.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the owner of CES, reported Dec. 17 that more than 200 companies from the transportation and vehicle technology industry will be represented — a record number for the event. 

Transportation is also well represented among the featured speakers, who include General Motors (GM) Chair and CEO Mary Barra and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. 

Buttigieg will speak about the future of transportation on Jan. 6. Announcing his addition to the lineup, Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), said in a press release, “We look forward to discussing how innovation and technology will help create a safer, more environmentally friendly and accessible transportation future.”

Presentations to Be Made Digitally

Barra will deliver the opening keynote, speaking on GM’s vision for mass adoption of electric vehicles. Her speech will be delivered digitally, as GM is among the companies that have withdrawn from in-person participation at CES due to concerns about COVID-19, Reuters reported Dec. 23.

CTA reported Dec. 22 that it had received 42 exhibitor cancellations since the previous Friday. Meta, Twitter and Pinterest are among the other companies that have announced separately that they will not be sending teams to the show due to concerns over the omicron variant of COVID-19. 

Read more: COVID Concerns Prompt Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest to Bow Out of CES 

During Barra’s presentation, GM will reveal the all-electric Chevrolet Silverado. This is a pickup truck the automaker says was designed as an electric vehicle (EV) from the ground up, and will have an estimated range of more than 400 miles. 

Robots, Electric Drivetrains and Connectivity Displays 

Hyundai Motor Company will focus on robotics, the metaverse and a concept it dubs “Mobility of Things (MoT)” at CES. In its booth and in a CES press event that will be livestreamed on YouTube, the company will feature its robot product lineup, its vision for virtual reality and its ideas for a future mobility ecosystem. 

Mercedes-Benz will unveil a research prototype of an all-electric vehicle dubbed the VISION EQXX. As the highlight of the automaker’s display at CES, this will show its advancements in electric drivetrains, lightweight engineering, sustainable materials and advanced software. 

Stellantis will feature advanced electrification, cockpit technology, autonomy and connectivity displays at CES. Among the eight vehicles to be shown is an example of the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, which will showcase connected tech such as a built-in Fire TV with Alexa and the availability of up to 75 inches of total screen display area — including nearly 45 inches of screens along the front instrument panel.

Other automakers that are slated to participate in CES include BMW, Fisker and Toyota, according to CTA. Among the other 200 companies from the transportation sector at CES will be automotive suppliers such as Magna, which received a CES 2022 Best of Innovation Award for its ICON Digital Radar, a driver-assistance technology.