CES 2025: Emerging Trends in Transportation Technology

CES 2025: Emerging Trends in Transportation Technology

Even before CES 2025 officially commenced, several dominant trends began to surface, pointing towards noticeable gaps in the landscape.

Surprisingly, most U.S. and some European automakers were absent from this year's show, a notable shift from previous years when CES was turning into a mainstay for automotive showcases. This absence was largely filled by Chinese automakers, including Zeekr, a brand under Geely Holdings, Great Wall Motor's premium brand Wey, and Xpeng, who had set up significant displays.

The West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, typically bustling with vehicle and transportation tech, appeared more subdued this year. While some major announcements took the stage, they weren't centered around new electric vehicles this time. For instance, Toyota made headlines with the completion of the first phase of Woven City, a prototype city near Mount Fuji, now seeking collaborations with inventors and startups. Intriguingly, Toyota also announced it was delving into rocket exploration, a venture not easily demonstrated at CES.

Despite a quieter vehicle scene, the future of transportation technologies was still very much in evidence. Autonomous vehicle technology took center stage like never before, hinting at possible developments throughout the year.

AI and Automated Driving Tech

Tier IV at CES 2025

Image Credits:Kirsten Korosec

The event saw substantial exhibits focusing on automated driving technologies. Companies like May Mobility, Tier IV, Waymo, and Zoox showcased their robotaxi innovations. Zoox, in particular, offered robotaxi rides to the media, demonstrating their advanced autonomous vehicle capabilities.

The presence of automated technology extended beyond traditional automotive applications. John Deere and Kubota featured agricultural technology, while startups like Polymath Robotics extended autonomy to off-road environments.

Many companies displayed supporting technologies for automated driving and advanced driver assistance systems, covering areas like simulation, machine learning, sensors, and data integration. In a notable move, Honda introduced its new Asimo operating system for future integration in their next-gen EVs, enhancing ADAS features.

Comma.ai, founded by George Hotz, also made an appearance, showcasing its open-source driver-assistance system designed to rival Tesla's Autopilot and GM's Super Cruise.

Vay, a company with an innovative approach to car-sharing, announced significant service expansions in Las Vegas, showcasing the potential for driverless solutions, though they were not featured on the show floor.

Nvidia's Expansive Partnerships

Nvidia's Jensen Huang

Image Credits:Akio Kon/Bloomberg / Getty Images

Nvidia, a staple of CES, continued to broaden its alliances across automotive and transportation sectors. This year saw a detailed commitment from Nvidia to provide comprehensive self-driving technology stacks, from testing to cloud supercomputing.

Highlighting its partnership with Toyota, Nvidia revealed plans to integrate its Drive AGX Orin SoC and DriveOS into Toyota's future vehicles, emblematic of the growing importance of AV systems.

Nvidia also announced collaborations with Aurora Innovation and Continental, targeting Level 4 autonomous trucking capabilities utilizing their Drive Thor SoC, with mass production set for 2027.

In a surprising development, Nvidia teamed up with Uber to employ simulation tools and cloud AI platforms to enhance Uber's autonomous driving endeavors, despite Uber's reliance on partners for AV technology.

Innovative Screen Technologies

Valeo Panovision at CES 2025

Image Credits:Kirsten Korosec

Screens have been a staple at CES, and this year companies like Valeo and Hyundai Mobis are reimagining them. Valeo introduced Panovision, set to feature in BMW's Neue Klasse vehicles, with a screen reflecting on the windshield base. Hyundai Mobis presented a holographic windshield that doubles as a transparent screen, offering navigation and media information seamlessly.

Generative AI in Vehicles

Toyota at CES 2025

Image Credits:Artur Widak/Anadolu via Getty Images

The integration of Generative AI in automotive technology is gathering momentum. BMW and Amazon announced a collaboration to incorporate Amazon's Alexa custom assistant into BMW's future models, enhancing voice navigation with large language models.

Qualcomm introduced updates to its Snapdragon Digital Chassis, featuring generative AI capabilities, enabling personalized in-cabin experiences. This leap forward includes safety features like real-time driver status monitoring and automatic personalization for driver convenience.

The Resilient Micromobility Sector

Micromobility at CES 2025

Image Credits:Kirsten Korosec

Micromobility has been rumored to be declining, yet CES 2025 proved otherwise. The North Hall featured numerous brands showcasing e-bikes and scooters. Companies like Vmax, Aima Technology, and Heybikes announced new models, while Segway introduced ebikes that integrate advanced smart technology. Verge Motorcycles also debuted an electric motor integrated directly into the tire, hinting at innovative future approaches in this sector.

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