A rich CES experience, miles away from Vegas

I couldn’t help but be impressed with Veoneer’s booth at CES.

At the entrance, there stood the company’s name spelled out in large, bright white letters neatly planted in artificial grass, across from a row of benches, flanked by company banners fluttering gently in the breeze.

I ventured inside to see people milling around, checking out the interactive displays, including vehicles running Arriver advanced-driver assistance software. There was a welcome desk to pick up information, plus a little theater and a lounge.

Impressive indeed, when you consider that this showroom, and the people inside, were virtual.

To me, some of the unsung heroes of CES 2022 were the IT experts who brought the show to people such as myself who were unwilling or unable to make the trip to Las Vegas.

Seven people from the Automotive News newsroom made plans a few weeks ago to travel to CES. As appointment after appointment got canceled, only one ended up going. But we covered the event nonetheless and you can find all our coverage at autonews.com/ces.

There is nothing like attending CES in person, but virtual venues such as those created by Veoneer — the tech supplier acquired by Qualcomm last year — go a long way toward replicating the experience. So do the slick video presentations, such as General Motors CEO Mary Barra’s keynote, taped at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, 2,000 miles from the Las Vegas Convention Center.

GM was among several major companies to withdraw or curtail their presence at CES because of concerns over the spread of coronavirus. Many went virtual.

For the 45,000 people who did hit Vegas (down 70 percent from 2020), organizers kept the show rolling, citing the importance of encouraging innovation and face-to-face collaboration.

While some may question the wisdom of holding CES in person during a COVID surge, to its credit the Consumer Technology Association took measures to protect people. Attendees had to show proof of vaccination and remain masked while indoors. CTA also put social-distancing steps in place, handed out free rapid-test kits and made it easy to view sessions online.

Forget the big TVs and the hot gadgets. The ability of CES, its exhibitors, presenters and attendees to adapt could be the most impactful thing to come out of this year’s show.

— Leslie J. Allen   

In Monday’s Automotive News:

EVs aplenty: The move to electrification is affecting every facet of the auto industry, including the commercial fleet business. A big question is how fast that side of the business moves to electric vehicles. Some answers might come from J.B. Poindexter & Co., among the largest upfitters (companies that marry chassis to proprietary bodies) in the business. The Houston-based company’s roots trace back to the early 1980s, and it posted revenue of $2 billion in 2020 through eight business units building everything from hearses to box trucks. Late last year the company added a new unit to work exclusively with EV chassis manufacturers. CEO John Poindexter gives Automotive News the lowdown on fleet’s EV conversion.

Chrysler’s future: Chrysler was on shaky footing when Stellantis was formed. Now brand CEO Christine Feuell opens up about Chrysler’s future, the Airflow concept’s debut and why she decided to join Stellantis. As Chrysler launches its first battery-electric model by 2025 and announces plans to go all-electric by 2028, Feuell explains her challenges, not the least of which is keeping consumers engaged in the years leading up to the brand’s product revamp. 

Weekend headlines

Behind the scenes of this past year’s Malaysian microchip crisis: A spike in COVID cases in Malaysia crimped the auto industry’s microchip pipeline last summer, just as automakers had begun to hope they had seen the worst of the chip shortage.

Wholesale used-vehicle prices grew more slowly in December: Cox Automotive’s Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index rose 1.6 percent in December compared with November.

Volvo picks next CEO: Dyson Group executive Jim Rowan, 56, will succeed Hakan Samuelsson, 70, as CEO of the Geely-owned Swedish automaker. Rowan faces the task of steering Volvo toward its goal of getting half of its global sales from full-electric vehicles by mid-decade and becoming an electric-only brand by 2030.

Ford doubles down on F-150 Lightning: The automaker said it will nearly double production capacity for the electric pickup, and it has taken 50,000 additional reservations since September.

EVs take center stage at CES: Automakers such as General Motors, Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and VinFast made plenty of EV news at CES 2022. The show, which was held both in-person and online, also featured a host of automotive technology and mobility developments. Get a rundown of all the news in this recap.

Jan. 12, 1937: Michigan Gov. Frank Murphy mobilized the National Guard to keep the peace in Flint, Mich., during a UAW strike against General Motors.