The CES2020 show held in Las Vegas has, as in the past, always been about the latest technology primarily but such is the interest in high-tech vehicles that cars and autonomy are now a major part of the event. In fact, the strap-line this year is “to go full gearhead to discover a full car show inside a technology show.”It's the industry's first chance to take a glimpse into changes in mobility, cars and related scientific advances.
CES Evolved
Over the last few years CES has evolved into one of the most important gatherings for automotive and mobility enthusiasts, in some ways supplanting many of the more traditional motor shows. CES2020 has proved to be a terrific forum for launching new innovations. It is clear from global events that the automotive mobility industry is in the midst of the greatest disruption ever seen since, it can be argued, the invention of the car itself over one hundred years ago.
In The Spotlight
On the telematics front the Qualcomm company announced an open end-to-end autonomous, telematics, infotainment, cloud-connected and safety system platform that can be used and adapted by car makers in the future for safety, and lifestyle requirements. It's a major leap forward for the car dashboard.
Perhaps one the most jaw-dropping sights though was the car as aeroplane. Hyundai is going into the air space future with a Personal Air Vehicle (PAV). The Korean company has announced plans to partner with Uber for air taxi services. This big 'vehicle' attracted huge attention, albeit one for the future.
In the same way as we expect more from our smartphones so discerning motorists are beginning to expect more personal technology from their cars. We want, it seems, quick, easy, and reliable access to our personal content and therefore are expecting greater connectivity options in our future vehicles. A voice interface that really works is at the head of the queue to avoid distractions. We want to be able to schedule appointments like car servicing or find out where the nearest coffee shop with parking is.
CES is also proving to be the place to introduce new vehicles. Henrik Fisker (CEO of the first all-digital car maker) revealed the Fisker Ocean to the public for the first time. It's an all-electric luxury SUV Fisker that is equipped with a fully sourced, state-of-the-art battery with +80 kWh capacity and a range of up to 300 miles depending on driving conditions.
More than 200 miles of range can be delivered from 30 minutes of charging from a high-speed charger. That's an impressive advance.
Partnerships are commonly announced at CES and this year it is Daimler's turn. They are though partnering with the film industry. The German company have introduced The VISION AVTR inspired by the movie ‘Avatar. This is essentially a concept car that has a multifunctional control element in the centre console that allows, in a sense human and machine to merge. By placing a hand on the control unit, the interior comes to life and the vehicle recognizes the driver by his or her heartbeat and breathing.
A step too far? Maybe; but there's no stopping the advance of technology so we might as well sit back in our autonomous cars and enjoy it.
