"Hyundai's decision to use its CES keynote to tout Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot sends a pretty clear message about how the auto industry is absorbing the bad news about EVs in the United States in 2025, and where it thinks things are heading in the new year. EVs are out, and AI and robotaxis are in. In addition to Hyundai, Mercedes announced its plans to roll out its Nvidia-powered Level 2++ driver assist feature in the US later this year."
"CES has always been a hotbed for robots and other assorted AI ephemera, but it also used to be the hottest car show around. It's where Chevy announced its first mass-market EV, the Bolt, and where everyone from Honda to BMW to Ram would gather to show off future battery-powered concepts. You could see color-changing cars, shape-shifting vans, and even a few flying cars if you were lucky."
Major automakers are pivoting away from promoting new affordable EV models and concept cars toward showcasing humanoid robots, AI systems, and robotaxi demonstrations. Hyundai highlighted Boston Dynamics' Atlas at a consumer electronics event, while Mercedes announced a Nvidia-powered Level 2++ driver-assist feature for the U.S. market. Uber plans a Lucid Gravity robotaxi in 2026, and Nvidia released Alpamayo open-source models intended to support autonomous driving features. Global EV sales growth is expected to slow as China reduces subsidies, Europe hesitates on bans for gas cars, and U.S. policy incentives face reversals.
Read at The Verge
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