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CES 2025: Mobilitetstrender och den globala AV-kapplöpningen

Thursday, Januari 23, 2025

Årets CES-mässa i Las Vegas banar vägen för framtidens autonoma mobilitet, men en förändring i industrins närvaro signalerar nya tider. Med färre fordonstillverkare men ett växande antal leverantörer av AV-tjänster accelererar den globala kapplöpningen mellan USA och Kina. Vi var på plats för att rapportera om de senaste trenderna, innovationerna och nyckelaktörerna som formar branschens framtid. (Artikeln är på engelska.)

CES-mässan i Las Vegas från utsidan

We’re in January, which means the new year has kicked off with a flood of mobility news pouring out of CES in Las Vegas. Over the years, CES has grown into one of the most important events for mobility industry players to showcase their offerings. In 2024, when many OEMs were still thriving, they participated in CES alongside the ever-important Tier 1 suppliers. Back then, self-driving technology was only hinted at by OEMs, while their supply chains showcased an overwhelming output of AV components, particularly sensors. However, this year was different. Far fewer OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers had booths, but a notable number of AV service providers made their CES debut among the 140,000+ visitors.

Unsurprisingly, Waymo stood out, presenting all its current and planned vehicle versions, including the Zeekr RT. Zoox had expanded its presence and is now on the verge of launching a public, commercial service in Las Vegas. Another exhibitor, May Mobility, is also making strides and announced an intriguing high-capacity vehicle set to debut next year. New entrants included Japanese Tier IV and Applied Intuition, while Holon showcased its Mobileye-powered vehicle, which is slated for deployment in Hamburg.

Waymo/Zeekr car

Waymo and Zeekr RT

May Mobility

May Mobility

Waymo booth

The Waymo booth

There were fewer trucks this year, although Volvo exhibited its VNL Autonomous used as a vehicle platform for the new collaboration between NVIDIA, Continental and Aurora. However, for fans of commercial heavy vehicles, autonomy in the off-road domain was prominently featured in the booths of John Deere, Caterpillar, Komatsu and Oshkosh. 

Holon

Holon

Volvo VNL Autonomous

Volvo VNL Autonomous

Tier IV

Tier IV

Ebba Busch på CES 2025

The Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch kicks off the Swedish delegation at CES.

Fortunately, the AV world extends beyond Las Vegas. Here are some recent highlights from the industry:

Waymo recently announced an impressive safety study conducted by Swiss RE and continues its expansion. However, incidents still occur—fortunately of a more laughable nature, such as passengers getting stuck in a loop at a parking lot, or a Waymo vehicle clashing with a package delivery robot. In a recent interview, a former San Francisco transportation executive shared some very grounded insights into the pros and cons of robotaxis, having witnessed their growing presence in the city.

On the legal front, the NHTSA has introduced a new voluntary framework for autonomous vehicles aimed at easing the path toward driverless cars without conventional controls. However, it also introduces new data reporting requirements. Meanwhile, a legal battle is brewing between Aurora and the FMCSA regarding whether a driverless truck can be exempted from the requirement to place a safety triangle behind the vehicle after an incident.

With the new U.S. administration taking office, it remains to be seen what will happen to this proposal and the broader federal approach to AV regulation. The same uncertainty applies to the ban on certain Chinese automotive technologies, which the Biden administration implemented toward the end of its term.

Meanwhile, Beijing has introduced new standards for AV deployment, further highlighting that the competition between AV giants in China and the U.S. is not just about technology but also policy and regulation. 

As the race between China and the U.S. in autonomous vehicle technology accelerates, it’s clear that innovation, regulation, and strategic positioning will continue to shape the future of mobility on a global scale. The one question that remains is – where is Europe in all this?

Jan Hellåker

Jan Hellåker

Senior rådgivare
jan.hellaker@drivesweden.net
+46 (0)727-10 70 37