CES 2025 was a whirlwind—a maelstrom of innovation, surprises, and a few head-spiraling ideas. If you were imagining the future of transportation as electric cars and smarter dashboards, think twice. Self-driving robotaxis, AI copilots, and rockets in space—yep, that’s what we’re seeing, as the tech industry reimagines how we travel, connect, and live.
A New Kind of Auto Show
At the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, there was little or no presence of American and European brand names. They had been usurped by Chinese marque names like Zeekr, Wey, and Xpeng, showing how far the world of automobiles has come.
But it wasn’t a question of who was there—it was a question of what they brought. The spotlight wasn’t on gleaming new electric cars, but on the software, AI, and connectivity that are transforming the future of mobility in the quiet.
Robotaxis Take the Wheel
Self-driving cars were ubiquitous this year. May Mobility, Tier IV, Waymo, and Zoox had their new stuff on display, with Zoox even providing media test rides in its robotaxis. It isn’t just urban driving that’s being upgraded with technology—John Deere and Kubota are automating farming, and companies such as Polymath Robotics are working on off-road terrain.
Behind the scenes, there’s a growing ecosystem of companies working on simulation, machine learning, sensors, and seamless data integration. Honda introduced a new operating system called ASIMO, designed to power advanced driver assistance in its upcoming EVs. Meanwhile, Comma.ai’s open-source tech is helping regular vehicles adopt advanced driving features on par with Tesla Autopilot or GM’s Super Cruise.
Nvidia Is Driving the Future
Nvidia is rapidly becoming the behind-the-scenes engine driving the auto world’s next great leap. They’re giving automakers and suppliers everything from simulation software and onboard supercomputers to cloud-based AI.
A highlight partnership is with Toyota, which will adopt Nvidia’s Drive AGX Orin chip and DriveOS to enable automated capabilities in upcoming cars. Nvidia is additionally collaborating with Aurora Innovation and Continental to introduce their Drive Thor system into mass production. Although Uber no longer develops its own AV technology, it’s utilizing Nvidia’s simulation and AI software to aid its continued autonomous endeavors.
Smarter Screens, Bolder Interfaces
Forget all that you ever thought you knew about dashboards. Valeo showed us Panovision, a full-width screen projected at the bottom of the windshield, with built-in driver monitoring. Hyundai Mobis topped it with a holographic windshield that turns into a transparent display for the nav and entertainment system, directly in your line of sight.
AI Moves Into the Passenger Seat
Generative AI is officially behind the wheel—or riding shotgun, at least. BMW is teaming up with Amazon to introduce a new car interface powered by a bespoke version of Alexa and big language models. This is not your standard voice assistant; it allows drivers to talk normally to navigate and more. The launch will commence in some cars and nations, making driving much more intuitive.
Qualcomm is also making big moves with its Snapdragon Digital Chassis and Cockpit platforms. Suppliers like Alps Alpine, Panasonic, Garmin, and automaker Mahindra are using Qualcomm’s AI tech to create smarter in-cabin experiences. New features include distracted driving detection, biometric seat and mirror adjustments, and even suggesting a coffee break if the driver looks tired, powered by models like Meta’s Llama and OpenAI’s Whisper.
Micromobility Gets a Makeover
Despite recent challenges in the shared scooter and e-bike market, micromobility is not going away, it’s just evolving. The North Hall was abuzz with new e-bikes and scooters from Chinese companies like Vmax, Aima Technology Group, and Heybike. Segway unveiled two intelligent e-bikes, and Verge Motorcycles’ Donut Lab introduced a new electric motor design that goes directly into the wheel, ushering in new possibilities for small electric travel.
From Roads to Rockets
One of the more surprising moments of CES, however, was when Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda announced that the automaker is in the process of developing rocket technology. He showed a rendering of an Interstellar Technologies-designed rocket and indicated that Toyota has invested around $44 million in the spaceflight company.
All of which is part of Toyota’s Woven City, a model city in the making at the foot of Mount Fuji. The concept? To create a city in which cars, data, and humans are kept linked seamlessly, regardless of what the terrain throws at them. Woven by Toyota CEO Hajime Kume explained how cars need a reliable telecommunications platform if they’re constantly on the move, and that’s exactly what they’re building.
The Bigger Picture
CES 2025 revealed to us in no uncertain terms: the future of transportation is more than just cars. It’s about AI, connectivity, and innovative ideas—whether that’s a holographic windshield, an AI co-pilot, or a rocket ship. The path to the future is unfolding very quickly, and it’s way more interesting than electric cars.
