Carmakers And Mobility Firms Return As CES Gears Up With Auto Sector

Cars and mobility will be back in a big way at the 2027 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January in Las Vegas, and organizers are expecting a robust turnout from automakers and suppliers showcasing their latest technologies.

The themes will focus on autonomous vehicles, AI, connected cars and electrification, organizers said at a preview in Detroit on Nov. 2. Other themes will include aviation, marine, drone and industrial applications for technology, said the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which owns and runs the show.

It’s the biggest footprint ever for mobility, and displays will take up about 350,000 square feet at the sprawling Las Vegas Convention Center.

“Mobility is definitely growing the show,” said Gary Shapiro, executive chair of the CTA.

Automakers Return to CES

Ford is returning to CES for the first time since 2020, and Stellantis is back for the first time since 2023. BMW, Kia, Waymo, Aptiv and Bosch are among the transportation-related companies set to present, while Uber will display for the first time. China’s Geely will return for the fourth time. Automotive-related sectors like agriculture and defense will also be part of the expanded footprint.

Additionally, Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana and Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa will give keynote addresses at CES. The show will also have test tracks showcasing connected vehicles and automotive technology features. Other deep dives will focus on EVs, robotaxies, data storage and use, software and security measures. It’s all set against an industry roiled by tariffschallenges from China, pricing concerns and political headwinds.

Overshadowing all automotive technologies—and the show itself—will of course be AI. Shapiro said exhibitors are showing off how they will use artificial intelligence to power systems that change the way consumers use their vehicles. “It’s the software, AI, connected systems,” he said.

He added: “It’s the defining change of our time.”

CES Previews Next-Gen Car Tech

Stellantis has long used CES as a showcase for its latest technologies, including the reveal of the forward-looking Airflow concept car in 2022. With screens, software and AI becoming omnipresent in cars, Stellantis is now trying to think of what’s next. Ralph Gilles, Stellantis chief design officer, said future applications could include voice commands to make the car behave like a friend to the driver by knowing driving patterns, music and temperature preferences.

“You actually look forward to hanging out with your car,” Gilles said.

CES has evolved in recent years, moving from a true consumer technology show to one with automakers competing for the spotlight. The growth of CES and the attention it drew from major firms is one reason the Detroit Auto Show moved from its own January dates to the fall (it’s since returned to its traditional winter timing).

Automakers and their executives strived to be on the cutting edge or tech and to interface with movers and shakers in that world, as infotainment systems and their accompanying screens became points of pride. Like all major events, CES took a hit during and after the pandemic, but it’s regaining some of its previous mojo—especially with automakers.

“It’s cool that auto and tech are now synonymous,” Gilles said.

Or as Kyle Rollins, senior vice president of Aptiv, put it in tech terms: “We argue that the vehicle is the most interesting edge device.”

With record space for mobility, the 2027 edition of CES could illustrate that notion.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com