What is the Consumer Electronics Show?

The Consumer Electronics Show kicked off in Las Vegas this week, serving as the global hub where major brands engage in business transactions, form new partnerships, and showcase the forefront of innovation. As the world’s largest audited tech event held in-person, automakers and their suppliers have increasingly expanded their presence, some key players that featured this year included Volkswagen, Kia, BMW, Honda and Mercedes.

Volkswagen Integrates ChatGPT into its Vehicles

As anticipated, the crossover of artificial intelligence and automotive technology left a solid mark on this year’s CES. Volkswagen were seen to be leading the way in this innovation, proudly emerging as the first manufacturer to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its IDA voice assistant, starting in the second quarter of 2024.

The new system is set to provide users with a host of new capabilities that improve on the previous voice control. According to Volkswagen, this enhanced system will enable users to operate their infotainment system, activate in-car navigation, regulate air conditioning, and even ask general knowledge questions.

Volkswagen promises that you won’t need to need to create a new account or download any apps to avail of the new service. Instead, activation is as simple as saying “Hello IDA” or pressing a button on the steering wheel. The brand assures drivers that the chatbot won’t access any vehicle data, and that the conversation history will be promptly deleted afterwards.

The new technology is set to roll out across Volkswagen’s lineup, making its way into popular models such as the Tiguan, Passat, and Golf, as well as the automaker’s ID family of electric vehicles.

Kia Unveils a Future LCV Range

The Kia PV5, revealed at the CES in Las Vegas is the first of a future line-up of what Kia calls PBVs, which stands for Platform Beyond Vehicle. Which is essentially the same as an electric Light Commercial Vehicle. The brand has revealed its ambitious plans to launch a line-up of five electric vans, including three PV5 variants, a PV7, and PV1. This initiative is part of the brands strategy to ramp up its offering on multi-purpose vehicles in the coming years, aiming to cater to a wider audience.

Prepared to be the first mover in the global PBV market, Kia is committed to the large-scale production of these vehicles. The brand is set to establish a new production facility in Korea dedicated to manufacturing the vehicle, set to produce 150,000 units by 2026 when the PV5 will go on sale. The new manufacturing site has been designed solely to produce PBVs and will use a bespoke manufacturing process that will eventually see production rise to 300,000 units.

Will these vans be coming to Ireland? The answer is yes, but the ‘PBV’ name won’t be front and centre stage here; instead, they will be referred to as eLCVs, or simply electric vans. Further details on pricing, launch dates, and technical specifications will be provided as soon as they become available.

BMW Reveals new Digital Tech

The in-car digital experience was the dominant theme of the BMW Group’s presence at the CES. Among the advances was the integration of gaming controllers with BMW’s latest 9.0 operating system. This latest-generation operating system empowers passengers with more in-car capabilities than ever-before. For example, occupants can now play computer games and stream content when parked up or charging their EV. BMW will release the new and improved gaming experience throughout 2024 via an over-the-air update.

Another unveiling at CES seen the introduction of augmented reality driving glasses. Streamed through XREAL Air 2 glasses, drivers will be able to see navigation instructions, hazard warnings and infotainment data streamed into their line of sight, wherever they look.

BMW also unveiled its cutting-edge Level 4 autonomous driving technology. Here, the driver simply leaves their vehicle in a designated drop-off area. The vehicle then autonomously seeks out an available parking space, manoeuvres into the spot, and can even return to the pick-up area for collection when prompted by the driver via smartphone.

So, it’s clear that BMW is steering towards a future where cars are as much about the journey inside as they are about the journey on the road.

As these technological advances unfold, the automotive landscape is undoubtedly shifting to a point where vehicles are not just modes of transportation but interconnected hubs of innovation and convenience. The Consumer Electronics Show continues to be a pivotal platform where the automotive industry propels itself into the next era of intelligent and sustainable mobility.

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