In 1967, when the first International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was held in New York, with 14 exhibitors, including LG, Motorola and Philips, the eye-catching products at the time were radios small enough to be worn on the wrist. Since then, CES has attracted more and more electronic manufacturers from all over the world to participate in the exhibition, and many exhibitors will take the opportunity to release the latest products developed by their companies to the world, and these products have gradually evolved into the vane of global consumer electronics and technology development trends, becoming one of the biggest attractions at the annual CES exhibition.
On January 9, local time in the United States, after several months of warm-up, the 2024 CES officially kicked off. The number of exhibitors at this year's CES has exceeded 4,000+, covering more than 20 consumer technology product categories, covering 5G, AI, digital health, robotics, virtual reality, automotive technology, metaverse and other cutting-edge technology fields, leading the development wave of global consumer electronics.
From the theme of this CES"all together,all on"It is not difficult to find that AI will be the absolute protagonist of this year.
Although OpenAI's most legendary CEO, Altman, has not appeared, in addition to OpenAI and Microsoft, which are the most direct beneficiaries, NVIDIA can be regarded as one of the biggest hardware winners who have made a lot of money through generative AI in 2023. On January 8, local time in the United States, after many days of high heat warm-up, NVIDIA's special speech finally opened. As the most important hardware brand to undertake the AI revolution in the 21st century, NVIDIA first launched the new graphics card protagonist: RTX 40 Super series in the special speech, and then shared the latest achievements covering generative AI, robotics, smart cars, game design and other hot fields.
In the automotive industry, Nvidia has become the head of intelligent driving, in addition to the previous Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Volvo, Weilai, Xiaopeng and other car companies, at the speech, Nvidia announced that it has reached an agreement with China's ideal car, Great Wall Motor, Zeekr and Xiaomi to provide hardware for the upcoming electric vehicle autonomous driving and other functions of these companies. Among them, Li Auto has selected NVIDIA's centralized in-vehicle computing platform, Drive Thor, to power its next-generation fleet. Great Wall Motors, Zeekr and Xiaomi will use NVIDIA's intelligent vehicle computing platform Drive Orin for their autonomous driving systems.
The theme of Samsung's CES 2024 conference is "All for AI: Connectivity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence", and at Samsung's press conference on January 8, local time in the United States, Samsung emphasized its strategic focus on the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing the connected experience. Almost all of its products are AI-related. For example, the new TV based on artificial intelligence technology Neo QLED 8K QN900D, refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, vacuum cleaner and a series of AI home appliances, upgraded robots, and Galaxy Book4 laptops that are deeply linked with Microsoft's artificial intelligence function Copilot.
In the automotive sector, Samsung Electronics also announced an automotive industry development plan in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group to realize more intelligent "home-to-car" and "vehicle-to-home" functions.
AMD has unveiled the AMD Ryzen 8000G series processors for the AI PC era, emphasizing that they are powered by XDNA NPU acceleration. In the automotive segment, AMD is expanding its portfolio with two new devices, the Versal Edge XA Adaptive SoC and the Ryzen™ Embedded V2000A series processors. These devices underscore AMD's leadership in automotive technology and are designed to serve key automotive focus market segments, including infotainment, advanced driver safety, and autonomous driving.
Together with BlackBerry, Cognata, ECARX, Hesai, Luxoft, QNX, QT, Suteng, Tudatong, Tanwei, Visteon and XYLON, AMD will showcase a wide range of automotive solutions that provide new options for critical applications in in-vehicle entertainment and advanced driver assistance systems.
In addition to NVIDIA, AMD, and Samsung, there are also pervasive technology giants such as Qualcomm, Intel, Sony, and LG, and how they will demonstrate their leading AI capabilities in the automotive field in ways and products is worth the close attention of the world.
On the other hand, those players who focus on the automotive field, whether it is traditional car giants like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda, or car rookies like NIO, Xpeng, and Vinfast;Whether it is the traditional international Tier1 such as Continental, Bosch, Valeo, and Magna, or the Chinese cutting-edge in the subdivision track such as Black Sesame, Youpao, Suteng, Tudatong, and WeRide, the integration of artificial intelligence and automotive software and hardware, especially in the application of intelligent cockpit and intelligent driving, also makes this year's CES have more highlights.
From automobiles to AI applications, OEMs have shifted their focus
Over the years, car manufacturers have been as enthusiastic about CES as they have been at professional auto shows. However, compared with previous years, although major OEMs also have very eye-catching new cars and concept cars, the direction of their muscles has shifted from new cars to their latest achievements in electrification, intelligent cockpit, intelligent driving and other fields.
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the all-new MBOS in-vehicle system, this system integrates AI artificial intelligence, more audio ** games and other applications. Brand new MBThe OS operating system will be the first to be installed in the production version of the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLA concept, which is expected to be launched later this year.
mb.The OS is faster and more efficient than the current MBUX infotainment system. mb.The OS will be equipped with a new virtual assistant based on AI and large language models that will provide more natural voice feedback and conversations. Brand new MBThe OS operating system also integrates the latest 3D navigation features, utilizing the game engine to provide crisp graphics and detailed driving directions.
BMW unveiled the all-new BMW i Digital Emotional Experience (DEE), a digital emotional experience, which showcased BMW's vision for the future of automotive emotional interaction. The DEE concept car can be seen as BMW's technological exploration of the next generation of electric vehicles.
BMW will also launch a new voice assistant based on large language models. The all-new BMW Smart Personal Assistant is a BMW car expert who provides more user-friendly assistance to drivers and passengers and answers questions about the vehicle in a timely manner. In addition, BMW has introduced a new in-car game feature that allows you to connect your smartphone as a gamepad to the car. At the same time, the application of VR, AR and other technologies in the cockpit was also launched. Combined with the Xreal Air 2 glasses, navigation commands, hazard warnings, entertainment content, charging station information, parking conditions and other functions can be visualized into the real environment.
BMW will also be showcasing the "next generation" valet parking solution with Valeo, where the driver can park in a designated area, and the vehicle will automatically search for a parking space and automatically drive in. When the driver needs to use the car again, the vehicle can automatically drive out of the parking space and drive back to the pick-up area on its own.
Volkswagen showed off the Golf GTI in camouflage. The exterior of the new car has not changed much, but there are many improvements inside. At the same time, Volkswagen announced that the eighth-generation Golf mid-facelift will debut at the end of January and hold a birthday celebration to celebrate the golf's 50th anniversary.
Volkswagen also officially announced a partnership with Cerence on generative AI to integrate ChatGPT into the backend of Volkswagen's voice assistant by deploying Cerence Chat Pro, providing many new features that go far beyond the previous voice control. For example, the IDA voice assistant can be used to control infotainment, navigation, and air conditioning, or to answer general knowledge questions.
Of course, there are quite a few automakers who have announced their new car plans at CES. Kia, for example, has unveiled three PBV concept models: the PV1, PV5 and PV7. The PBV product range is primarily intended for the commercial market and features skateboard chassis technology. Among them, the mid-size PV5 will be the first to be launched in 2025.
Hyundai Motor has announced that its all-new hydrogen-powered vehicle, the NEXO, will be launched in 2025. The new model is positioned as a mid-size hydrogen fuel cell SUV equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell system, and has a range of 550 km in 5 minutes with hydrogen refueling.
Vinfast will introduce the entry-level VF 3 SUV as well as a new concept car. Honda will also launch a new electric vehicle for the global market. Honda has said it will launch 30 new electric vehicles by 2030, including battery-electric and fuel cell-powered products, as well as the Afeela brand launched by the Sony-Honda joint venture at last year's CES.
Sony focused on the Afeela model, which was unveiled by a PlayStation 5 controller remote, and invited Jessica Hawk, Microsoft's vice president of artificial intelligence applications, to talk about Microsoft's contribution to Honda and Sony's use of AI.
The world's Tier 1 showmanship is very familiar
The world's Tier1 giants, on the one hand, cooperate with OEMs to appear at different booths, and on the other hand, they also lose no time in showing off the latest technology. However, for Chinese consumers, who are accustomed to the most advanced automotive smart hardware and software, these technologies are hardly eye-catching.
At the heart of Bosch's new in-vehicle computer (called the Cockpit &ADAS Integrated Platform) is a single SoC that can handle a wide range of functions in both the infotainment and driver assistance systems, including automatic parking, lane detection, intelligent personalized navigation and voice assistance. For OEMs, such integrated platforms take up less space and cost less.
Continental, on the other hand, focused on high-end in-vehicle devices, launched the first display made of Swarovski crystals, which is the world's first high-end automotive display fully integrated into the crystal. With a screen size of 10 inches, unprecedented levels of brightness and contrast are achieved, and the image seems to be suspended in the air. As a product with more symbolic significance than practicality, it is not surprising that this crystal screen won this year's CES Innovation Award.
In addition, Continental's parking radar RVP also won this year's CES Innovation Award, which uses radar instead of ultrasonic sensors and is fused with four surround-view cameras to enhance the overall parking function. With a high-performance computer SoC, the system also provides comprehensive solutions for other ADAS functional areas, such as cruise and safety.
predict4range is Valeo's upcoming software solution to drive the most efficient thermal management strategy for electric vehicles, extending driving range by up to 24% and extending battery life. At the same time, Valeo has also cooperated with car companies to launch the latest models of Zeekr equipped with a 15 mm high Valeo Thinbilite dual-function front lighting module and two digital panels, as well as the BMW ix series equipped with its cockpit remote operation solution.
Hyundai Mobis, a parts manufacturer of Hyundai Group, showcased 20 technologies ready for mass production, including an innovative display series, a high-power integrated charging control unit, and more. Of particular note is the next-generation display technology with holographic optics, the Automotive Transparent Display, which can clearly project images onto a transparent panel and provide greater openness to the driver.
Japan's Asahi Kasei AKM Microelectronics continued to make efforts in software and launched Velvet Sound, an automotive acoustic design solutionAt CES, AKM will showcase its immersive audio experience that combines high-quality audio ICs, software, and tuning technologies.
Visteon DECO Trim brings a control display that, when not activated, looks like a wood or metal surface that blends in with the car's interior. When the sensor detects the hand, the display becomes a control panel that can be used to control interior functions such as power windows, HVAC systems, and audio controls. This product also won this year's Automotive Technology Innovation Award.
LG Display plans to launch next-generation displays and is committed to "screening" automobiles. LG has also expanded its business into energy management, with the latest wireless battery management system (BMS) enabling longer ranges. The BMS system is a must-have component of all electric vehicles, monitoring battery voltage, current, and temperature in real time to optimize battery performance and life.
Magneti Marelli, a Fiat company, has launched the industry's first "virtual cockpit", a digital twin demonstrator powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), which replicates the complete vehicle cockpit in the cloud, accelerating design, testing, simulation and functional deployment in an OTA manner. Car companies can upgrade the cockpit on this basis without affecting the existing functions.
Holding together, China's automotive black technology leads the global trend
At this CES conference, the number of Chinese exhibitors was 1,114, although there was a slight gap from the peak of 2018, but the overall number still accounted for nearly one-third of the total number of exhibitors, and the number of exhibitors related to the automotive industry and mobility technology was nearly 100. Although the vast majority of these exhibitors are small and medium-sized enterprises or even start-ups, there is no shortage of excellent products in both the vehicle and the subdivided industrial chain.
Different from previous years, there is a clear trend of Chinese auto OEMs this year to extend to the industrial chain, or to join forces with different industrial chain partners. For example, last year, CES Geely Automobile appeared as a representative of Chinese car companies, bringing two models of its high-end intelligent pure electric brand Zeekr, but this year, the Geely Galaxy E8 equipped with BOE's world premiere 45-inch 8K on-board through screen appeared at BOE's booth.
With the rapid development of the smart car industry, the world's mainstream auto brands pay more attention to the upgrading of human-vehicle interaction, and large-screen, personalized, intelligent, diversified, and ultra-high-definition on-board displays have gradually become a trend. BOE continues to cultivate in the automotive screen track,This conference,BOE will launch oxide、8K、BD cell、MLED、OLED and other on-board display products and solutions,In addition to Geely Galaxy E8,Aston Martin DB X 707 equipped with BOE BD cell technology will be exhibited at the same time。
In addition, BOE will also launch the world's first super-large oxide intelligent cockpit, as well as a variety of cutting-edge display technologies represented by smart vehicles, including many industry-disruptive black technologies.
NIO joined forces with Tudatong and Xreal to appear at CES, exhibiting ES8 and ET7. Among them, the ES8 is equipped with the PanoCinema panoramic digital cockpit, which includes six components: NIO Air Glasses, N-Box enhanced entertainment unit, 71.4 Immersive sound system, waterfall surround ambient lighting, comfortable environment and seats can create a leading full-sensory immersive cabin entertainment experience for users.
The ET7 is equipped with the Tudatong Falcon, which is the standard perception hardware of NIO's second-generation platform models, with a maximum detection distance of up to 500 meters for LiDAR, which has helped 8 second-generation platform models achieve safe and efficient intelligent driving functions, and accompanied NIO's all-domain pilot-assisted NOP+ to complete nearly 200 million kilometers of intelligent driving mileage.
Lidar is also one of the popular tracks of this global business competition, and there is no shortage of strong opponents in the global market. For example, Valeo can provide lidar for L2 and above autonomous vehicle level models, and has reached a cooperation with Didi, which is expected to launch L4 autonomous vehicles in 2025.
The leading companies in China's lidar track all appeared at CES. In addition to Tudatong, Suteng Juchuang, a lidar company that has just been successfully listed this week and quickly ranked first in the world's market capitalization, launched the first ultra-long-range lidar M3 on the M platform, LiDAR products on the E platform, AI perception software and a series of perception solutions at the CES conference.
Last year, Suteng's lidar sales exceeded 250,000 units. As of December 18, 2023, Sutar has received fixed-point orders for 62 models from 21 car companies and Tier 1.
Hesai Technology officially released the 512-line ultra-high-definition ultra-long-range LiDAR AT512, which is equipped with Hesai's latest self-developed chips, and has achieved a comprehensive performance upgrade with the ultimate optical transceiver efficiency and top-notch vertical integration capabilities through the introduction of cutting-edge technologies such as 3D stacking and light noise suppression.
It is worth mentioning that Hesai's ET25 ultra-thin automotive LiDAR won the CES Innovation Award. The ET25 series has an extremely thin and light body, with a body height of only 25mm, which can be easily installed behind the front windshield of the car, which can meet the strict requirements of the new generation of consumers for body aesthetics. (Cheyun will also introduce CES award-winning products next.) ）
As a leading provider of automotive-grade intelligent automotive computing chips and chip-based solutions, Black Sesame will launch a series of automotive-grade chips and solutions at this exhibition. Intelligence puts forward higher requirements for the performance and cost of automotive electronic and electrical architecture, and chips play a key role in the transformation of electronic and electrical architecture. Black Sesame Intelligence will be committed to creating more possibilities for partners in the industrial chain and ecosystem through chip innovation and technology iteration.
Lotus's robotics company also appeared at the CES conference, bringing new high-end intelligent driving solutions, intelligent driving operation solutions, etc. In addition, there are intelligent cleaning robots and intelligent chassis systems brought by Qingwei Technology.
In the intelligent driving track, Chinese companies also performed well. As the world's leading L4 autonomous driving technology company, WeRide once again appeared at CES with the latest autonomous driving technology and products. WeRide has carried out autonomous driving R&D, testing and operation in more than 26 cities around the world, with a cumulative autonomous driving mileage of more than 25 million kilometers, including self-driving taxis, self-driving minibuses, autonomous cargo vehicles, autonomous sanitation vehicles, and high-end intelligent driving.
In addition, the electric vehicle skateboard chassis track leader Youpao Technology will also be unveiled at CES and launch new products. Xpeng's Xpeng Huitian will exhibit its flying car. This is also the first public appearance of Xpeng Huitian's all-in-one flying car on the international stage since its release in October last year.
With the continuous deepening of automotive intelligence, users' demand for smart cars has become more diverse and scenario-based, and automobile manufacturers are no longer simple stacking and showing off skills, the interaction between people and vehicles, and the overall on-board solution of software and hardware coupling are becoming the direction of joint efforts of OEMs and first-chain enterprises. In this track, China's auto companies are undoubtedly at the forefront of the world in many dimensions, and they also deserve more attention.
The Cheyun team will be at the CES site to bring the latest developments of global exhibitors, especially Chinese technology and automotive companies, to the audience.