CES highlights future of the automobile

IT’S POSSIBLE that within a few years, mainstream cars will drive themselves reliably—on routes they have mastered, in weather they can handle. And with a person ready to grab the wheel. AP

THE C in “CES” may very well stand for cars. Cars dominated a section of the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this year. As cars bring more electronic functions on board, they are becoming more sophisticated technology platforms.

CES used to highlight the infotainment systems, and now that is just a small part of the technology package that cars are carrying. Here are some of the automotive trends seen in this year’s CES:

Autonomous driving

Cars that can drive themselves are already here. Kia demonstrated its Soul Autonomous Vehicle (AV) just before CES, at its California Proving Grounds. The Soul was able to drive a programmed route through an urban environment and on the highway. It was able to detect obstacles, and when the human driver was “sleeping,” and pull over safely.

Toyota demonstrated its software that allows vehicles to learn its driving route while avoiding accidents. This was run on a fleet of scale-model Prius cars. The cars would initially bump into each other. But after a few minutes, they are able to run smoothly.

Tesla boss Elon Musk predicts that in the near future, consumers will not want to buy cars that don’t have autonomous driving capability. Tesla has already introduced software that allows its cars to drive autonomously. Its latest update allows owners to call their cars from the parking garage.

Electric propulsion

Chevrolet unveiled its Bolt electric hatchback at CES. The Bolt promises a range of 300 kilometers, and a price of $30,000 after incentives. The two figures are acknowledged to be the deal-breakers for potential buyers of electric cars, and Chevrolet may be the first one to crack the electric car mass market.

Other electric cars on the stands included VW’s reincarnation of its beloved Microbus. This one is called Budd-E and is powered by two electric motors, with the batteries integrated into the vehicle’s floor. The range is projected to be more than 370 km on a single charge.

Connected drive

Aside from the Soul AV, Kia also displayed its new Sportage. The Sportage features more connectivity options, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The car also provides diagnostic information and can summon emergency services when needed.

KIA’S SOUL Autonomous Vehicle was able to drive a programmed route through an urban environment and on the highway. Jason K. Ang

Kia’s i-Cockpit design concept shows how a car’s interior can connect to a driver using a smartwatch. The car can adapt to his preferences automatically. The windshield can display an augmented reality program, with information superimposed on the screen. It also allows the driver to connect to his home and adjust various settings before reaching the front door.

Ride sharing

Car sharing is now being made convenient by companies such as Uber and GrabCar. Consumers in cities may decide that they don’t need to own a car at all. This will cause carmakers’ sales to drop.

General Motors acknowledged that this may come to pass, and hedged its bets. GM announced a $500-million investment in ride-sharing company Lyft. GM will build autonomous vehicles, while Lyft will make sure those vehicles are well-utilized. In effect, carmakers may become rental companies, with consumers using the cars as needed.

The auto industry will undergo radical changes within the next 10 to 20 years. By 2030, aside from the four wheels, a roof and doors, cars will perhaps have little more in common with those of today.