All things automotive from CES 2026
- SBD Automotive
- Jan 6
- 8 min read
Updated: Jan 8
Our team of 11 experts will be covering the show in Las Vegas.
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CES 2026 Day 2 - Round Up
Day 2 at CES 2026 — what a dynamic and insightful day on the show floor! From strategic shifts in automotive tech to global presence and shifting trends, CES continues to exceed expectations. Huge thanks to everyone we connected with today, your ideas and energy are driving innovation forward!
Here’s what stood out from Day 2:
Ford’s tech reset and future focus: Ford used CES to outline a refreshed technology roadmap. From plans for in-house L2+ ADAS and L3 systems to a custom AI assistant and proprietary high-performance computing platforms, signaling a bold new chapter for their technology strategy.
Chinese automakers making an impact: Geely and Great Wall Motors maintained a strong presence on the CES stage, underscoring China’s ongoing commitment to global automotive innovation and hinting at future market movements.
What wasn’t there also told a story: Certain technologies, like cutting-edge charging infrastructure and some high-hype AI concepts, were notably absent, reflecting how CES’s focus is evolving toward pragmatic, industry-facing innovation rather than pure consumer spectacle.
Day 2 reinforced that CES is more than product debuts, it’s a lens into where technology and strategy are heading next.
CES 2026 Day 1 - Round Up
CES2026 Day 1 reminded us how CES has grown into a global technology strategy platform, where AI, mobility, robotics, and software-defined vehicles intersect and redefine future mobility ecosystems.
From autonomy and AI to partnerships shaping the future of mobility, here’s a snapshot of what stood out on Day 1:
Autonomy takes center stage, from renewed industry focus on autonomous driving technologies to broader strategic narratives that show autonomous capabilities are finally becoming real and deployable trends.
Collaborations in motion - Lucid, Nuro & Uber revealed plans for a robotaxi service that could begin operations later this year, signaling commercial intent for autonomous transport solutions.
AI toolkits for vehicle innovation - Nvidia announced the Alpamayo AI toolset designed to accelerate autonomous vehicle development with open datasets and models tailored for perception and reasoning at scale.
You can read the full article here: Day 1 Round Up
TomTom Orbis Maps to Power CARIAD’s Automated Driving Systems
Bosch keynote highlights: Software-defined vehicles moving from promise to reality. Bosch showcased how Vehicle Motion Management software is reshaping vehicle performance, even after sale. By coordinating braking, steering, powertrain and suspension, the system enables driving modes that adapt to driver preferences and real-world situations.
A key differentiator: control of vehicle movement across all six degrees of freedom. This allows improved cornering dynamics while significantly reducing motion sickness, a critical factor for passengers and an increasingly important requirement for autonomous vehicles.
Bosch reinforced its view that the industry is rapidly shifting toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs), projecting that over 80% of vehicles on the road will be software-defined by the end of the decade. This transition unlocks continuous improvements in personalization, safety, comfort and driving behavior.
To support this shift, Bosch introduced S-Core (Eclipse Safe Open Vehicle Core), developed with its subsidiary ETAS. The initiative aims to deliver a high-performance, open-source middleware platform, moving the industry away from fragmented OEM-specific stacks toward a unified, scalable standard.
Bosch also highlighted its progress in by-wire technologies, including true brake-by-wire systems and the accompanying software. According to Bosch, a major OEM announcement adopting this technology is expected soon, positioning by-wire as a cornerstone for self-driving and SDV architectures.
AI remains central to Bosch’s strategy for assisted and autonomous driving. The company expects to reach sustained business scale by 2032 and previewed an AI-powered cockpit experience that can both see and hear, using two large language models, one text-based and one vision-based. This enables new functions, such as autonomously searching for parking once a destination is reached, with more capabilities to follow.
Finally, Bosch reaffirmed its collaboration with Kodiak AI on the development of driverless trucks, underlining its commitment to autonomy across both passenger and commercial vehicles.
A strong signal that Bosch is positioning software, AI, and open ecosystems at the core of future mobility.
Hyundai Motor Group unveiled a bold AI Robotics strategy aimed at leading the next era of human-centered robotics.
Under the theme “Partnering Human Progress,” the Group outlined how it will combine its global value chain, manufacturing scale, and strategic partnerships to accelerate the Physical AI industry,with people at the center.
From vision to reality
Boston Dynamics revealed the production version of Atlas®, its next-generation humanoid robot.
Atlas is planned for deployment at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) by 2028, starting with sequencing and higher-risk tasks.
The goal: reduce human physical burden, improve safety, and advance truly collaborative smart factories laying the foundation for future commercialization.
Building an end-to-end AI Robotics ecosystem Hyundai Motor Group companies, including Hyundai Motor, Kia, Hyundai Mobis, and Hyundai Glovis will work alongside Boston Dynamics to create an end-to-end AI Robotics value chain, spanning:
data-driven training and validation
software-defined factories
global manufacturing scale
expansion of Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS)
This effort is further strengthened through partnerships with NVIDIA, Google DeepMind, and other global AI leaders to accelerate next-generation humanoid development and ensure safe, scalable deployment.
Connecting global innovationBy linking Physical AI ecosystems across Korea, the U.S., and beyond, Hyundai Motor Group is positioning robotics not just as automation but as a platform for human progress.
At CES 2026, the Group is showcasing Atlas®, Spot®, and MobED, with live demonstrations highlighting real-world human-robot collaboration.
The future of robotics isn’t about replacing people it’s about working together.
TomTom Orbis Maps to Power CARIAD’s Automated Driving Systems
TomTom’s AI-powered Orbis Maps will be integrated as a core mapping layer within CARIAD’s automated driving software stack — supporting Volkswagen Group’s next generation of intelligent, safe and scalable driving systems.
Why this matters: High-quality, fresh map data is essential for automated driving. Orbis Maps delivers highly accurate, up-to-date spatial context that complements onboard sensors and enhances situational awareness. This enables a wide range of safety-critical functions — from Intelligent Speed Assistance to hands-free driving — with more predictable, human-like behavior across complex road environments.
Built for global scale, TomTom’s AI-native mapmaking platform continuously updates lane geometry, behavioral data and road attributes at minute-level freshness, strengthening vehicle perception and decision-making under real-world conditions.
TomTom + CARIAD: This collaboration reflects the strength of our technology and shared focus on innovation in automated driving. It reinforces TomTom’s leadership in map intelligence for future mobility and supports the Volkswagen Group’s vision for safer, smarter automated driving experiences.
SBD Automotive CES 2026 Tour Guide
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This guide covers everything you need to know when visiting the show, from the booths you absolutely must not miss to insider tips and practical advice that will help you navigate the event with confidence and ensure you get the best possible experience.
Pioneer at CES 2026
Pioneer will showcase a range of advanced mobility solutions, including its Integrated Sound Platform, a lightweight, software-enabled audio system that improves efficiency without sacrificing sound quality, demonstrated across entry-level, premium, and luxury configurations.
Also on display is Pioneer’s entry-level cockpit domain controller (CDC), a cost-effective solution for flexible display and control design, bringing sophisticated cockpit functionality to budget-friendly vehicles.
Pioneer will highlight its AI-enabled in-vehicle camera solutions, featuring a demo vehicle equipped with ten cameras to deliver 360-degree surround view for enhanced safety, parking assistance, and poor-weather visibility. The showcase also includes connected drive recorders, digital mirrors, and modular dashcams for OEM and fleet applications.
Finally, Pioneer will present its connected motorcycle solutions, including next-generation meter clusters, onboard cameras, and live demonstrations of Pioneer Ride Connect, enabling smarter navigation, improved safety, and intuitive rider experiences through AI and smartphone integration.
Experience the Future of Driving with TomTom at CES 2026
In the Experience Zone, TomTom will showcase Automotive Navigation and Context-aware Automated Driving, demonstrating how AI, real-time maps, and vehicle data are redefining the driving experience.
Visitors can explore how TomTom’s automated driving interface improves transparency and driver confidence by clearly communicating what the vehicle perceives and how it responds. The demo highlights a unified automation-and-navigation experience that blends live sensor data, agentic AI, and map intelligence for safer, more intuitive supervised driving.
TomTom will also present the latest innovations in Automotive Navigation, including its AI Agent, which delivers proactive guidance using real-time traffic, mapping data, and vehicle insights such as EV battery status. The showcase features EV-focused navigation solutions, leveraging TomTom’s global map of more than 2 million charging points to make electric driving more predictable and stress-free.
LG Display at CES 2026
LG Display has consistently demonstrated its automotive display technological leadership, having won CES Innovation Awards for its Thin Actuator Sound Solution ahead of CES 2023 and its 57-inch Pillar-to-Pillar LCD, the worlds largest single-panel automotive display, in advance of CES 2024.
At CES 2026, LG Display will set up a dedicated booth for next-generation automotive display solutions in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), aiming to share them with top-tier automotive suppliers and equipment manufacturers.
LG Display also plans to unveil new large-sized OLED products at a customer-exclusive booth located at the Conrad Hotel near the main CES venue.
Sony Honda Mobility to Exhibit at CES 2026
At SHM’s booth, which is the largest to date, features several AFEELA 1 pre-production vehicles in multiple color variations, alongside a new AFEELA concept model, demonstrating the company’s commitment to the evolution of the AFEELA brand as consumer interest in the brand continues to grow and as the AFEELA 1’s launch approaches.
The entire booth showcases examples of the values that the AFEELA brand offers: Autonomy (evolving autonomy), Augmentation (expansion of the body and space-time), and Affinity (collaboration with people and symbiosis with society).
Elektrobit at CES 2026: Right-Sized Software-Defined Vehicles
Elektrobit will showcase its latest innovations designed to make the right-sized software-defined vehicle (SDV) a reality—balancing innovation, scalability, and affordability as vehicle complexity and development costs continue to rise.
Through hands-on demonstrations at booth #3719 in the LVCC West Hall, visitors can explore practical approaches to reducing SDV development complexity and accelerating time to market. Highlights include high-performance Linux for safety-critical ADAS and cockpit systems, “integration as code” for scalable ECU development, modular and safety-certified SDV cockpit solutions, and a smart EV platform developed with Foxconn to enable faster, more cost-effective SDV production without supplier lock-in.
Elektrobit’s executive team, led by CEO Maria Anhalt, will be on site, and the company’s technologies will also be featured across partner booths throughout CES. Anhalt will additionally take part in the CES Smart Rides panel on January 8, discussing how SDVs are shaping the future of safety, personalization, and next-generation mobility.
SoundHound AI and Parkopedia: Voice AI-Powered Parking at CES 2026
SoundHound AI and Parkopedia will debut a voice AI-powered parking search and payment agent that allows drivers to find, reserve, and pay for parking entirely hands-free. The Parkopedia AI Agent proactively suggests nearby parking, highlights special offers, and provides real-time availability and pricing—removing friction from one of driving’s most common pain points.
Using natural voice commands, drivers can navigate to their destination while the AI agent identifies suitable parking, confirms pricing, reserves a space, and completes payment before arrival, improving both convenience and safety.
The solution will be showcased at SoundHound’s CES 2026 booth (#5867, LVCC West Hall), demonstrating how agentic voice commerce is transforming in-car experiences. Beyond parking, SoundHound’s conversational AI enables hands-free transactions for services such as reservations, ticketing, and appointments, bringing intelligent, connected convenience to the vehicle.
AUMOVIO at CES 2026: Next-Gen Automotive Tech
The exhibition will feature customizable in-car displays, scalable ADAS and automated driving systems, and software-defined vehicle (SDV) architectures that streamline development and enhance user experience.
Highlights include the Branded Personalized Cockpit with advanced multi-display and privacy technologies, and the Xelve system, a scalable platform covering assisted and automated driving functions for various vehicle segments. The company will also demonstrate its path from virtual development to real-world SDV applications with high-performance computing and standardized E/E architectures.
Visitors can explore these innovations through interactive exhibits and vehicle demos that bring AUMOVIO’s vision of safe, exciting, connected, and autonomous mobility to life.
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