Automotive OEMs are showing more and more interest in technology shows, as mobility becomes a factor of IT con¬vergence as much manufacturing and design excellence.
In 2011, Ford chose the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to unveil its first electric car – the Ford Focus Electric. At the same show, major technology trends emerged including the launch of more than 80 tablets, wireless 4G LTE, connected TV technologies and smart appliances.
There will be more OEM and automotive presence at the 2012 International CES, which will be held from January 10 to January 13, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), CES is the world’s largest tradeshow for consumer technology. Keynote speaker in 2012 will be Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft Corporation. “We are pleased to welcome Microsoft back to the CES keynote stage. From mobile to desktop to gaming and beyond, Microsoft has a significant impact on all aspects of the consumer technology industry, and Steve Ballmer’s keynote is a great way to kick off the exciting 2012 International CES,” says Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA.
The 2011 International CES saw more than 140,000 technology attendees with 31,677 of them being from outside the US. “The 2011 International CES was the must-attend event of 2011 and featured astounding innovative debuts including Android Honeycomb, Ford’s Electric Focus, Motorola’s Atrix and Microsoft’s Avatar Kinect,” says Shapiro.
The 44th International CES was so successful that a year before the 2012 edition of the show, the 2012 International 75,000 net square feet of exhibit space CES iLounge Pavilion – sponsored by iLounge.com – sold out in less than two hours.
Automotive Industries (AI) asked Shapiro what will be new for the OE, telematics and international automotive community at the 2012 International CES.
Shapiro: Major automakers are increasingly participating in CES. In addition to the well-known companies, electric vehicles will be a major trend at the 2012 International CES. They will be featured prominently in the GoElectricDrive TechZone on the show floor. Attendees will see innovative electric vehicles and technologies from start-ups and major car manufacturers, including advancements in smartphone integration, smart grid technology and more.
Innovative aftermarket products will also be huge at the 2012 CES, with everything from Internet radio, safety and vehicle navigation to audio. Pioneer’s Aha Radio and AppRadio have done very well in the aftermarket and we can expect to see more mobile apps announced at the show. Connected aftermarket on-board diagnostic (OBDII) solutions for car dealers will be big in 2012. We are also seeing more devices provided for driver monitoring, stolen vehicle recovery, family tracking, insurance services and roadside assistance. Aftermarket mirrors will be big in 2012 with enhanced back-up cameras, navigation and other driver services. In-vehicle entertainment trends will emerge at the 2012 CES including more Android-based head units and an increase in television choices, including over-the-air digital TV.
AI: Tell us about the iLounge pavilion – what will be some of the innovations, concepts, themes, new technologies that will be showcased there?
Shapiro: The iLounge Pavilion at the 2012 CES will be the largest in our history, spanning 75,000 net square feet. Experiencing 50% growth over its 2011 CES footprint, iLounge is now the largest dedicated exhibition of iPod, iPhone and iPad related products and services in the world. Cutting edge products and technologies for the next generation of iPad, iPhone and iPod offerings from more than 250 companies will be on display in the iLounge Pavilion to be previewed by top retailers, vendors and more than 5,000 press and analysts. Attendees can expect the launch of new products including the latest accessories, fashion cases, plug-ins and more.
AI: What are some of the iPhone/smart phone technologies and applications that are driving the growth trend in the automotive market?
Shapiro: Internet radio apps will be a huge driver in 2012 and many will be announced at the 2012 International CES, along with navigation apps that will continue to drive growth in the marketplace.
AI: What are some of the current trends in automotive vehicle electronics and multimedia systems?
Shapiro: Streaming audio from the head unit is a major trend in the in-vehicle market. Products and services such as Slacker, Pandora, MOG, Spotify, Livio Radio are driving growth. Audio is still a major component to the driving experience and as such, attendees can expect to see a strong showing from speaker manufacturers at the 2012 CES.
AI: What are some of the awards and market announce¬ments that we can expect at the 2012 International CES?
Shapiro: The 2012 CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards will be announced in November, and the honorees will be on display at the upcoming 2012 CES. The Innovations Awards program honors the top products and services across 32 consumer technology product categories. A new awards program for the 2012 CES is the International Academy of Web Television (IAWTV) Awards. The IAWTV Awards program is the first awards show within the Web television industry to be presented by content creators, for content creators. From studio content producers to YouTube celebrities, those successfully creating entertainment for digital platforms will be celebrated across 33 categories. The UK’s Stuff Magazine will again produce the Hot Stuff Awards at CES, featuring the top ten must-have products as chosen by their editorial team. And of course, CNET will host its ever-popular Best of CES at the 2012 show.
AI: What is the impact and what are the market implications for the next generation of electronic products for vehicle manufacturers and suppliers?
Shapiro: To sum it all up, the car will meet the cloud at the 2012 CES and attendees can expect to see a bigger role for wireless carriers and off-board content and service providers. The market is moving faster than it ever has before and the traditional supplier network is beginning to change to keep up with the marketplace. Attendees at the 2012 CES will see greater visibility from software and service companies, as roles are changing within the automotive market and systems are changing to accommodate smartphone integration, larger displays, embedded telecommunication modules, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB connections.
Cisco CEO John Chambers, GE Chairman, CEO Jeffrey Immelt and Xerox Chairman and CEO Ursula Burns join the 2011 International CES keynote line up as participants in the Innovation Power Panel.
Highlights from the Mobile Apps Showdown at 2011 CES where apps producers had two minutes to demo their app, and an applause-o-meter measured audience enthusiasm to determine the winners.?? to read full version of AI stories go to www.ai-online.com
Automotive Industries also spoke to Karen Chupka, Senior Vice President, Events and Conferences at CEA, and asked her how she rated the response to the 2012 International CES.
Chupka: The 2012 International CES is shaping up to be our best show yet. We are expecting more than 140,000 attendees at the 2012 show, which will feature more than 2,700 exhibitors across more than 1.6 million square feet of exhibit space. That’s over 33 football fields of consumer technology innovation! We are also excited to have automakers, such as Ford, Audi and Mercedes at the 2012 CES.
AI: What do you expect visitor and exhibitor numbers to be at the 2012 event?
Chupka: We are expecting more than 140,000 industry professionals from 140 countries to attend the 2012 CES. The 2012 show is expecting a record number of new product launches with more than 2,700 exhibitors showcasing their latest products and services.
AI: How much international attendance do you expect at the 2012 CES?
Chupka: Some 30,000 attendees from outside the United States are expected to attend the 2012 CES.
AI: Tell us a little about the Eureka Park TechZone and what visitors and exhibitors can expect from this pavilion.
Chupka: The inaugural Eureka Park TechZone is a dedicated area at the 2012 CES showcasing innovative start-ups and entrepreneurs. In partnership with the National Science Foundation, more than 30 companies signed up to exhibit in Eureka Park within a few weeks of the launch. Eureka Park, located at The Venetian, is designed to benefit budding entrepreneurs, start-ups and small companies looking to gain footing in the consumer technology market. This area will be a hot spot for venture capitalists, investors, media and industry professionals looking for the next big thing in technology.
AI: What are some of the benefits for companies exhibiting at the Eureka Park TechZone – how does the pavilion help showcase their technologies?
Chupka: Eureka Park provides a platform for young companies, small start-ups and entrepreneurs to showcase their innovations at the world’s largest business event for consumer technology. Every major technology milestone started with an idea, and we want to provide the next generation of innovators with an opportunity to launch their technologies to the world at CES. Turnkey exhibit space within Eureka Park is provided at a special rate in order for these young companies to be able to participate in the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow.
AI: What are some of the innovations at the 2012 International CES?
Chupka: More than 20,000 new products will launch at the 2012 CES, spanning 15 product categories and more than 1.6 million net square feet of exhibit space. Trends for the 2012 CES will include connected TVs, the latest in-vehicle and electric vehicle technologies, mobile consumer devices and 3D innovations.
AI: The International CES has always been known for their keynote speakers – tell us what the 2012 edition of the show has on offer in this respect. What will the conference program be like and how many speakers are expected at these conferences?
Chupka: Ballmer’s CES keynotes are always thrilling and a great way to kick off. Our full schedule of CES keynotes will be available in the fall. Our CES conference program will be announced in the coming weeks, but we expect 500 industry leaders to speak at this year’s CES with 200 conference sessions slated for the 2012 show.
Investing for a cleaner world
