Car tech at CES 2026: Utter AI domination
At this year's CES, automakers focused on showing us the future of cars; not so much the cars themselves.
OK, there were exceptions, such as Sony Honda Mobility's AFEELA 1 and the accompanying SUV prototype. Some automakers decided to launch new or refreshed models in the past couple of days, unrelated to CES.
At the CES 2026 show floor, however, the focus was on artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, safety tech, and the good old practice of throwing massive computing power at a car to make it smarter.
Let's recap the most important car and mobility trends that emerged from CES 2026.
Sony Honda Mobility is still dedicated to building EVs
We're not going to pretend that Sony Honda's AFEELA 1 is new. The joint company first unveiled the AFEELA 1 prototype three years ago, at CES 2023, while the production version was shown last year. And this year's version was simply more refined in numerous little ways, though that refinement comes at a cost, as the AFEELA 1 starts at $89,900.
This year, the company also brought the AFEELA 1 Prototype, which the company says will likely reach production in 2028. The car itself is essentially a SUV variant of the AFEELA 1, but the big news is that Sony Honda still looks serious about this whole smart EV business, even as some competitors dial down on their EV plans.
Tensor's Robocar
The California-based Tensor Auto calls itself an "AI and RoboCar company," which tells you all you need to know about today's mobility trends: the AI element is as important as the car itself.
At CES 2026, the company brought its Robocar, a preposterously luxurious, extremely futuristic electric car that is basically a big smart robot that lugs you around — we had a close look at the Tensor Robocar at CES.
The Robocar, as the name suggests, is equal parts robot and car. You can talk to it, and it talks back. The vehicle can, for example, notify you about traffic conditions before you leave the house, and make contextual decisions as it drives you to your destination.
Oh, and did we mention that it's a real head-turner?
It's still early days for cars like these, as no personal car out there can autonomously drive you around without any user intervention (Tensor has designed the Robocar with Level 4 autonomy in mind). But Tensor is ramping up production in the second half of 2026, meaning you should be able to buy one relatively soon. Fingers crossed.
Nvidia's physical AI
One of Nvidia's obsessions at CES 2026 was "physical AI," which means AI systems that can perform complex actions in the physical world. This includes robots, smart spaces, but also autonomous vehicles, which have to process sensor data in real-time and then act upon it.
Mercedes-Benz was one of Nvidia's partners on the show floor, which showed its vision of AI-based driving, based on Nvidia's reasoning model for autonomous driving called Alpamayo. The company also announced plans to start testing a robotaxi service (with a partner) as soon as 2027.
So. Many. AI. Assistants.
In the past, the first things automakers bragged about were the acceleration, the space, the comfort. Now? It's all about who has the best AI assistant.
At CES 2026, BMW demoed its Amazon Alexa+-based assistant, built into the company's first Neue Klasse EV, the BMW iX3. The new AI companion, which is rolling out in the second half of 2026 in the U.S., is not just for navigation and turning on your seat heatings; it can also answer broader questions, including ones about the Mona Lisa.
Ford announced an intelligent assistant that will debut on smartphones first before launching in cars circa 2027. Sony's AFEELA 1 will feature a Microsoft Azure OpenAI-based AI assistant that should be able to keep up a conversation. And Tensor's AI Agent takes things a step further by analyzing data from all possible sensors as well as in-car entertainment systems and using long-term memory to learn and adapt to your preferences over time.
Good old EVs
With Detroit Auto Show coming up next week, most automakers decided to show up there instead of at CES. But some, like Xiaomi and Volvo, launched or teased new models during CES (even if Xiaomi didn't have a big presence at the show).
These weren't as futuristic as the other stuff we've seen at the show, but the good news is that they're actual new models that will soon be available for purchase.
Xiaomi's refreshed SU7 electric sedan focuses on safety, though it does also have improved range and powertrain, among other improvements.
Finally, Volvo will officially launch its electric SUV, the EX60, on Jan. 21, but the company teased the car with a few photos, and some very impressive range figures.
Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and updates from the biggest show in tech.
Stan is a Senior Editor at Mashable, where he has worked since 2007. He's got more battery-powered gadgets and band t-shirts than you. He writes about the next groundbreaking thing. Typically, this is a phone, a coin, or a car. His ultimate goal is to know something about everything.
