Yazılar

Self-Driving Technology and AI Take Center Stage at CES as Automakers Pull Back on EV Plans

/in /tarafından

Autonomous driving technology and artificial intelligence are expected to dominate this year’s CES trade show in Las Vegas, as automakers and investors look beyond electric vehicles for growth amid rising costs, safety concerns, and regulatory pressure.

With many carmakers scaling back electric vehicle strategies, suppliers and startups are using CES to showcase advances in self-driving hardware and software. Industry observers expect a wave of partnerships and announcements focused on reducing driver involvement — or eliminating the human driver altogether.

“This year you will see more and more focus on AI and autonomous,” said C.J. Finn, U.S. automotive industry leader at PwC, adding that the industry’s ability to deploy driverless technology safely will be closely scrutinized. He noted that connectivity and AI-driven autonomy will be “front and center” at the event.

AI is also spreading well beyond vehicles, with applications ranging from robotics and wearable devices to smart home systems and healthcare technology. Among the headline speakers at CES are Jensen Huang of Nvidia and Lisa Su of Advanced Micro Devices.

CES 2026 runs from January 6 to 9 and has in recent years become a major platform for automakers to debut new EVs. This year, however, the show will feature far fewer electric vehicle launches. A rollback of EV-friendly incentives under the Trump administration — including the removal of a $7,500 tax credit — has cooled consumer demand and forced automakers to rethink their strategies. As a result, most major manufacturers are not planning new EV unveilings at CES, marking a sharp shift from previous editions.

Picture background

Despite years of heavy investment, commercializing autonomous vehicles has proven difficult. Regulatory hurdles, high development costs, and investigations following crashes have pushed several companies out of the market. Still, momentum has returned following Tesla’s limited robotaxi rollout in Austin and the continued expansion of Waymo, owned by Alphabet.

Advanced driver-assistance systems have also improved, with hands-free highway driving and automated lane changes becoming more common. Automakers such as Rivian are aiming to introduce “eyes-off” driving features and autonomous operation on city streets.

At the same time, cost pressures remain a major concern. Automakers are reassessing capital spending after absorbing billions of dollars in EV-related write-downs and grappling with tariffs on imported vehicles and parts. Many have chosen to absorb tariff costs rather than pass them on to consumers, squeezing profit margins.

“The main theme we expect to see emerging at CES is cost and cost competitiveness,” said Felix Stellmaszek, global automotive and mobility leader at Boston Consulting Group, noting that competition from Chinese automakers is also weighing on industry strategies.

AI and Self-Driving Technology Take Center Stage at CES as Automakers Pull Back on EVs

/in /tarafından

Autonomous driving and artificial intelligence are set to dominate the agenda at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, as automakers scale back electric vehicle plans and look to AI-driven technologies as their next growth engine.

With EV demand cooling amid policy changes under Donald Trump and rising costs, most major automakers are skipping new EV launches at CES this year. Instead, suppliers and startups are expected to showcase advances in self-driving hardware, software and AI-powered driver assistance.

Industry leaders say investor attention is shifting toward autonomy. Recent moves — including limited robotaxi launches by Tesla and rapid expansion by Waymo — have renewed optimism after years of safety incidents, heavy spending and regulatory hurdles.

AI will feature prominently beyond vehicles, powering robots, wearables and smart devices. Keynote speakers include Jensen Huang of Nvidia and Lisa Su of Advanced Micro Devices.

Cost pressures remain a major concern. Automakers are absorbing higher tariffs and facing intensifying competition from Chinese rivals, prompting a sharper focus on efficiency and capital discipline as they bet that AI and autonomy — not EVs — will define the industry’s next phase.

Automakers Call on USDOT to Restart EV Charging Program

/in /tarafından

A coalition of automakers and electric vehicle (EV) charging companies is urging the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to quickly resume the $5 billion federal electric vehicle charging infrastructure program. The call for swift action comes after the Trump administration announced the suspension of the EV charging program and the reversal of approvals for state-level EV charging plans, pending a new review.

The Electric Drive Transportation Association, which represents members like General Motors, Toyota, EVGo, Walmart, and others, expressed concern over the uncertainty this suspension could create. The group stressed the need for a prompt restart to ensure states and businesses that have invested in EV infrastructure can continue their efforts in line with national transportation goals.

On his first day in office, President Trump criticized the push for electric vehicles, halting the distribution of unspent government funds allocated for charging stations from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund. Trump also rescinded a 2021 executive order from President Biden that set a non-binding goal for electric vehicles to make up half of all new U.S. vehicle sales by 2030.

Additionally, Trump proposed ending the waiver that allowed states to implement their own zero-emission vehicle regulations by 2035 and suggested potentially repealing EV tax credits. While the Biden administration’s targets received backing from both U.S. and foreign automakers, the future of such incentives remains uncertain under Trump’s leadership.

Last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy directed regulators to rescind the stringent fuel economy standards under Biden, which aimed to reduce fuel consumption in cars and trucks, as well as the associated climate regulations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has set a goal to increase Corporate Average Fuel Economy requirements to about 50.4 miles per gallon by 2031, up from the current 39.1 mpg for light-duty vehicles.