The top 3 car trends to expect at CES 2026

The new year is just around the corner, which also means we’re already deep into CES season. In 2026, the world’s largest consumer electronics show returns to Las Vegas and is expected to lean heavily on robots and “living with AI” — a direction that may not thrill car enthusiasts after last year’s focus on vehicles.

That said, the biggest automakers on the planet will still be around as the industry continues its full-speed transition to AI, just like everyone else. Like last year, expect a lot more software reveals than actual new car announcements, which – depending on who you ask – is either encouraging progress or a major disappointment.

So here’s everything you need to know about cars as CES 2026 approaches.

Sony-Honda is back

At CES 2025, we covered the debut of the Sony-Honda joint venture’s first electric vehicle, the AFEELA 1. Although we didn’t get to see it in motion, Sony-Honda Mobility Group gave us a demo of the car’s infotainment system. For 2026, the company plans to return with what it calls a “pre-production” version of the AFEELA 1, as well as an all-new concept vehicle.

What’s less clear is what Sony-Honda actually considers pre-production at this point. The version shown in 2025 already looked pretty road-ready, at least from a visual standpoint, which makes the distinction more semantic than substantive.

According to SHM Group, their electric vehicles are expected to begin production in 2026 and will initially only be available in California.

Software-defined vehicles take center stage (again)

If there’s one theme that will quietly dominate CES 2026, it’s the continued move toward software-defined vehicles. This is not new, but it is East becoming essential. Automakers are less interested in showing off their vehicles themselves and more focused on proving that their cars can evolve after leaving the factory.

This means that operating systems, over-the-air updates, and modular software stacks will be everywhere. Companies like P3 are using CES to highlight Android Automotive-based platforms that allow automakers to deploy features, apps and services long after a vehicle has been delivered. For consumers, this could mean improved infotainment and improved features over time. For automakers, it’s about speed, flexibility and, ultimately, new revenue streams.

The biggest change is “agentic AI.” For reference, these are AI systems that actively make decisions on behalf of the user, rather than simply responding to commands.

At CES 2026, expect to see AI used for route planning, energy management, and driver assistance systems that adapt in real time rather than following fixed rules. On the surface, it’s a significant attempt at innovation, but it raises questions about privacy and how much control drivers are willing to give up.

Don’t expect much of a show

If CES 2025 was synonymous with big promises, CES 2026 looks more like a reality check. Several analysts have noted that automakers are now in the less glamorous phase of turning previous announcements into actual products. This is exactly the current state of the automotive industry, especially considering the development of the electric vehicle industry in 2025.

As CES 2026 approaches, the electric vehicle industry finds itself in a significantly more sober place than it was just a year ago. After years of tight deadlines and all-in commitments, automakers are recalibrating as demand proves weaker and more uneven than expected. Electric vehicle sales in the United States peaked in late 2025 before federal incentives expired, then fell sharply, forcing companies like GM and Ford to pull back billions of dollars in planned spending on electric vehicles while refocusing on hybrids, trucks and SUVs that actually move volume.

Automakers are now operating in what industry analysts have called an era of “electric vehicle realism,” where electrification remains the long-term goal, but the road ahead is slower, more fragmented and far less ideological. Expect CES 2026 to reflect this change.

That’s why the show can seem calmer from an automotive news perspective, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. CES has always been a vendor-focused event and this year it will likely highlight chips, sensors, robotics and manufacturing technologies that won’t grab the headlines.