As far back as 2018, Ward’s Automotive said CES—formerly the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas—was “becoming the most important auto show in the world.” Four years later, tech website CNET called CES “the best auto show in years.” A year after that, Jalopnik proclaimed, “CES 2023 was finally the year CES became a Car Show.” Since then, the automotive presence at CES has seemed to decline slowly. I attended this year’s event, hoping to see at least a few automakers show their latest technology or a concept car or two.

Unfortunately, CES 2026 had even less automotive activity than last year. Economic challenges and industry instability have contributed. The decline of auto shows in general was another factor. Only BMW and Hyundai had a significant presence, joined by a few startups and Chinese companies. A few underlying themes were apparent in both automaker and supplier exhibits.

The first theme is a renewed interest in autonomous (or automated) driving. Ten years ago, most automakers made aggressive predictions about when it would arrive. None of those predictions came true, due to technological and regulatory hurdles, as well as consumer fear. But McKinsey reports that investment in automated driving exceeded electrification this year. That shift was clear at the show. Artificial intelligence was everywhere—not only to help you drive, but also in the form of in-car assistants. These assistants were either developed internally by automakers or borrowed, as BMW did with Amazon’s Alexa+.

Transitioning from broader industry trends to vehicles on display, here are several automotive highlights worth noting …

LUCID

While the new “midsize” (~$50,000) entry due to start production later this year still hasn’t been seen, the U.S. startup brought its new Gravity Robotaxi to CES. Lucid developed this with Nuro, which provided autonomous-driving expertise, and with Uber, which provided the wider ecosystem. The Gravity looks fairly “stock.” It has extra sensors at the front and rear, additional graphics, and a roof-mounted “tiara” (Lucid’s term) that houses additional autonomous sensors and computing equipment. Lucid will build 20,000 Gravity Robotaxis over the next six years for global markets. Meanwhile, the retail Gravity will get “Level 2++” autonomy (hands-free, eyes-on, point-to-point navigation) later this year with Nvidia’s help. The new midsize entry will get Level 3 (hands-free, eyes-off on the highway) in 2028 and Level 4 (hands-free, eyes-off almost anywhere) in 2029.

WHY IT MATTERS: With Rivian introducing its comparable R2 model this spring, both investors and buyers are closely watching the debut of Lucid’s new midsize entry and its production ramp. The Gravity Robotaxi is expected to support positive cash flow as operations scale and technology matures.

BMW

The first entry off BMW’s brand-new Neue Klasse EV architecture, the iX3 compact SUV, was unveiled at IAA in Munich in September and had its first public showing at CES. U.S. sales begin this summer (and yes, it will be built here). Only Euro-spec models were on display, but visitors could sit in them and experience them. With a 400-mile EV range, superfast DC charging enabled by a new 800V architecture, and BMW’s innovative new Panoramic iDrive interior layout, the iX3 looks like a compelling alternative to the aging Tesla Model Y.

WHY IT MATTERS: Unlike some luxury brands, BMW never planned an all-EV future, so they haven’t had to delay or cancel any programs—just keep investing in both internal combustion and EV technology. The Neue Klasse architecture will face stiff competition from other legacy luxury brands—as well as emerging upscale Chinese players—but BMW seems to have the ingredients to remain competitive.

AFEELA

A new brand, created by the Sony-Honda Mobility joint venture several years ago, expects to begin deliveries of the Afeela 1 sedan in California by year-end. It has also brought a second prototype (Afeela 2?) to Las Vegas. The 1 is a conventional sedan in the mold of the Tesla Model S, enhanced by Sony’s infotainment technology and entertainment and gaming library. The SUV is a taller, two-box fastback, likely sharing much of the 1’s hardware and powertrain. Unfortunately, a 300-mile range, a 150kW fast-charging time, and no innovative technology (like hands-free driving) leave the Afeela 1 a tough sell compared to competitors like the BMW i5 and Lucid Air.

WHY IT MATTERS: With Honda’s forthcoming 0 Series platform, it is uncertain why Afeela has not adopted these advancements for its first model. The brand now recognizes that entertainment alone will not sell an otherwise unremarkable vehicle, and it has identified this as a niche entry. The future of Afeela within the broader market remains to be determined.

GEELY

The Chinese automotive giant that owns Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, and the builders of London cabs brought a handful of vehicles to Las Vegas. Their press conference touted progress in AI development. The goal: to transform vehicles into “super intelligent beings.” Their new tech includes Eva, the “hyper-anthropomorphic agent,” and G-ASD (Geely Afari Smart Driving), which uses a cloud-based model with over 100 billion parameters to enhance driver safety. They also invited journalists to Las Vegas Motor Speedway to drive Geely, Zeekr, and Lynk & Co. vehicles. The company said it plans to announce a U.S. strategy in two to three years.

WHY IT MATTERS: Currently, tariffs prevent Chinese-branded vehicles from entering the U.S. market unless produced locally. Geely’s existing presence, including the Volvo South Carolina plant, and its broad model range position the company well for potential market entry, especially among younger buyers who are more open to Chinese brands.

GREAT WALL MOTORS (GWM)

GWM did not announce any U.S. plans. However, it brought a couple of premium SUVs to the show. Its technology rollout included one unique goal: creating a relationship between a vehicle and its driver like that between a horse and its rider. In other words, they want your car to become a companion, not just a tool. Also on display was the impressive 4.0-liter twin-turbo hot-vee V8 unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show.

WHY IT MATTERS: Observers typically focus on the competitiveness of Chinese brands in the EV sector. However, recent developments indicate strong capabilities in internal combustion technology as well.

DONUT LAB AND VERGE

For years, industry experts have called solid-state battery technology the holy grail for EVs: longer-lasting, faster-charging, safer, and more power-dense. Many automakers have announced plans and targets, but Finland’s Verge Motorcycles just unveiled the TS Pro electric superbike. The $34,900 premium TS Pro, powered by a solid-state battery developed by Donut Lab, claims a 370-mile range. It promises 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, a full charge in 10 minutes, and a life span of 100,000 cycles. All these numbers seem incredible, but the last is especially striking. A typical lithium-ion EV battery lasts 5,000 cycles, or just 5% as long as Donut’s new battery.

WHY IT MATTERS: There is considerable skepticism around this new battery, with the CEO of Chinese battery maker Svolt claiming it’s a fraud. With the TS Pro hitting the market this quarter (not two years from now), there will be opportunities to validate those numbers and the tech itself. If it’s real, it bodes well for other automakers rushing to bring this technology to market.

DREAME

You may recall several years ago when Britain’s Dyson—known for their pricey but innovative vacuum cleaners—wasted £2.5 billion trying to bring an EV to market. China’s Dreame, known for its consumer appliances, is going down the same route. They brought two production-intent electric supercars (the Star Razer and Star Matrix) boasting some incredible numbers: 2,040 horsepower, a 4,400-pound curb weight, 0-60 in 2.4 seconds, and a 0.20 drag coefficient. Additional technologies included an augmented-reality head-up display, a virtual track-driving coach, and a drone storage system.

WHY IT MATTERS: In 2021, Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi announced plans to enter the EV space and launch the extremely competent and successful SU7 sport sedan three years later, so don’t write this company off yet.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While this year’s CES may not have been as spectacular as past shows, there were enough innovations and announcements to attract the eye of the technology-oriented automotive enthusiast. Let’s see if next year can continue the momentum.