‘The 2017 Detroit and CES shows illustrate how our world is changing forever’

As a snapshot of how the automobile industry is changing at an amazing rate, the first two major shows of the year supply a real marker. last week I attended the 2017 consumer electronics show in Las Vegas; this week automobile express has been in Detroit for the North American international automobile Show.
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The names describe the crucial difference; it’s all about the automobile in motor City, while the sin City event concentrates on the tech under the bodywork.
A decade ago, CES indicated nothing to automobile makers. I was gobsmacked to learn that Hyundai was the first maker to attend, as recently as 2009. This year big names such as Mercedes, VW, Honda and Ford were out in force; some even suggested they think it’s now far a lot more crucial for their service to be seen in vegas rather than in Michigan.
• “We have much to look forward to from our homegrown carmakers”
That’s not to say Detroit has lost all its lustre. The automobiles in this week’s issue verify otherwise. but what is clear is that the tech at CES is becoming ever a lot more vital for consumers and makers alike. 
There were some fascinating developments on display in Vegas; I personally experienced facial recognition, augmented reality in cabins and gaze control, where simply checking out a particular part of the dashboard controls it. but the one phrase you couldn’t escape was autonomous driving, which I tried out in a Hyundai Ioniq.
Whether you fancy it or not, it is being pursued with vigour – the most extreme example at CES of how technology is altering our landscape beyond all recognition. Within this revolution, inspiring and a bit daunting at the same time, the most heartening thing I heard at CES was Toyota’s us senior VP Bob Carter imploring that the industry need to never forget that it builds cars, first and foremost, for people. Amid the shifting sands of the automobile business, that is one mantra everyone would do well to remember.
What are your thoughts on the future of the automobile industry? Leave us a comment below…