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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CES 2021 was held as a virtual
event from 11 to 14 January and saw participation from multiple
major automotive OEMs, suppliers, and startups. Despite the lack of
a physical presence in Las Vegas, key announcements grabbed
headlines ranging from the automotive industry's focus on 5G, new
electronic architectures, the latest display technology,
next-generation electrification, and more.
Automaker announcements were a particular highlight this year.
General Motors showcased its new all-electric vehicle (EV), the
Cadillac CELESTIQ, which featured all-wheel drive (AWD), four-wheel
steering, and a full-glass roof made of a four-quadrant,
suspended-particle-device smart glass. Sono Motors announced the
launch of a new prototype generation of its solar electric car, the
Sion, while Groupo Antolin showcased its Virtual Ride Hailing
Concept Car and the Virtual Ride Sharing Concept Car. Mercedes-Benz
presented its 141 cm MBUX Hyperscreen consisting of three
seamlessly merged displays, which covers almost the entire
vehicle's dashboard. The MBUX Hyperscreen will be launched as an
option on the EQS SUV.
Source: Daimler
On the supplier side, highlights include Sony's latest
developments of the VISION-S EV and Panasonic Automotive unveiling
a new augmented reality head-up display (AR-HUD) that features
advanced optics, 3D imaging radar, 4K resolution, AI-driven
navigation, eye-tracking technology, and real-time situational
control.
Panasonic also unveiled two variants of in-vehicle wireless
charging technology and fully wireless Wi-Fi camera while
OmniVision and Nextchip showcased a solution that provides
high-quality images for rearview cameras, surround-view systems,
and e-mirrors. StradVision and D3 Engineering partnered to
demonstrate their automotive front camera solution. Continental,
HERE, and Leia paired up to provide 3D navigation display solutions
utilizing HERE's 3D depictions of buildings and topography,
Continental's Natural 3D display, and Leia's lightfield
technology.
Source: Continental
Mainland China's startup Deeproute.ai presented the
second-generation of its all-in-one sensing solution
DeepRoute-Engine, an inference engine that accelerates the neural
network computation, allowing algorithms to run on an
energy-efficient computing platform. Mobileye also announced a
collaboration with its parent company Intel to develop
next-generation radar and lidar sensors for autonomous
vehicles.
Alongside the pure technical innovations at CES, General Motors
also chose the virtual venue to announce its new BrightDrop
business that entails an integrated ecosystem of electric products,
software and services for the first to last mile. In partnership
with FedEx, GM will supply an EP1 propulsion-assisted electric
pallet developed to easily move goods over short distances and an
EV600 electric light commercial vehicle purpose-built for delivery
of goods and services over long ranges. Most interesting, beyond
the technical abilities of these vehicles, is the new business
model and revenue source that GM is launching into, fully
recognizing the future of mobility and how GM fits into the new
equation differently compared to traditional business models.
As we leave the disruption of 2020 behind, the future is poised
to be electrically powered and software-defined. Just how fast this
transformation will take place is yet to be seen, but CES 2021 was
evident in itself of the rapid pace of digital change still to
come.
