At a Glance
- CES 2026 will showcase more flying car concepts, including electric air taxis and ultralight personal aircraft.
- AI will become a core feature in dashboards, with automakers integrating large language models like ChatGPT and Google Gemini.
- Autonomous driving hardware will see modest upgrades, while robotic mobility concepts push the boundaries of movement.
- Why it matters: These trends could reshape commuting, introduce new mobility services, and accelerate software-defined cars.
CES 2026 will be the 18th time I’ve covered the Consumer Electronics Show, and the show is already buzzing with the next wave of automotive innovation.
Flying Cars
The show is expected to feature the most eVTOL concepts yet, with several companies presenting road-to-air vehicles and electric air taxis.
- Hyundai Supernal debuted its flight-ready electric air taxi last year.
- Alef Aeronautics showcased the Model Zero Ultralight, a vehicle that can drive on roads before lifting off.
- Jetson released a video of its eVTOL racing prototype.
- XPeng AeroHT introduced a hybrid SUV that can deploy a small eVTOL from its trunk.
- Archer Aviation announced plans to purchase Hawthorne Airport as an “air taxi network hub and AI testbed.”
| Company | Concept | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Supernal | Electric air taxi | Flight-ready |
| Alef Aeronautics | Model Zero Ultralight | Prototype |
| Jetson | eVTOL racing | Demo |
| XPeng AeroHT | SUV-mounted eVTOL | Showcased |
| Archer Aviation | Airport acquisition | Planned |
AI-Powered Dashboards
Automakers are moving beyond simple voice assistants to full conversational AI that can predict driver needs and self-diagnose.
- Volkswagen partnered with Cerence to bring ChatGPT-style AI to its cars.
- Honda promised an AI future where the car learns preferences and predicts needs.
- Mercedes-Benz announced a plan to bring IMAX movies to the dashboard, while also partnering with Google and Microsoft for its MBUX AI assistant.
- The next wave will likely see more LLMs integrated into vehicles, enabling complex, natural-language tasks.
Autonomous & Robotic Cars
Hardware for autonomous driving is mature; the focus is now on software, infrastructure, and new mobility concepts.
- Waymo updated its autonomous taxi roadmap, using the Hyundai Ioniq 5 robotaxi and Zeekr RT.
- John Deere showcased its second-generation self-driving tractor.
- Hyundai Mobis unveiled the Mobion concept, an electric hatchback with four-wheel steering that can articulate each wheel up to 90°.
- Other concepts include autonomous delivery robots, electric go-karts, and self-balancing motorcycles.
Key Takeaways
- CES 2026 will push the limits of flying car concepts, with multiple companies presenting road-to-air vehicles.
- Conversational AI will become a standard feature in dashboards, integrating large language models for predictive and diagnostic tasks.
- Autonomous driving hardware will see incremental upgrades, while robotic mobility explores new forms of movement.
CES 2026 promises to be a landmark event where the future of mobility is not just imagined but showcased in real prototypes.
