By: Karla Lopez
CES 2026 made one thing clear: mobility innovation is gaining real traction- not just in flashy concepts, but in the infrastructure, partnerships, and tech ecosystems that will define how we move in the near future. From solid-state battery breakthroughs to smarter infrastructure and real-world autonomous deployments, the show offered a roadmap for what’s next in transportation.
The acronym ACES (Autonomous, Connected, Electric, and Shared) has been around for a while. You’ll sometimes hear CASE or even CAEV depending on who’s talking. But whatever the order, CES showed that these pillars still define the evolution of mobility.
Let’s break down what this year’s show revealed and why the real opportunities are in solving the messy, system-level problems that come after autonomy becomes the norm.
Autonomy: A Sector That’s Quietly Maturing
Autonomy didn’t dominate headlines the way it used to, and that’s exactly the point. Instead of moonshots and media stunts, CES 2026 revealed a mobility sector digging into the hard, boring problems that make autonomy scalable.
Companies are now focused on infrastructure integration, interoperability, and compliance. It’s less about whether a car can drive itself, and more about whether it can navigate a smart city, follow local traffic laws, and respond to edge cases in real time. There was significant discussion at CES around V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communication, which allows vehicles to interact with traffic systems, pedestrians, and other connected vehicles (which is critical for Level 4+ autonomy to function safely at scale).
One of the more visible players in this space was Beep, Inc., which announced a partnership with Karsan to deploy autonomous e-JEST electric minibuses in the U.S., powered by its AutonomOS fleet management platform. These are SAE Level 4, shared, driverless vehicles slated to roll out in 2026. It’s a small but meaningful step in the shift from showcase to service.
Connected: Infrastructure Is the Next Battleground
As autonomy becomes more accepted, the next bottleneck will be coordination. Connected mobility took a front seat at CES, with multiple talks focused on “smart highway” infrastructure, real-time vehicle data sharing, and the role of 5G and edge computing in traffic safety and optimization.
This is where mobility stops being a product conversation and becomes a systems-level problem. How do thousands of autonomous, electric vehicles navigate dense urban spaces? How do regulators ensure public safety without slowing innovation? Expect more attention in 2026 and beyond on interoperable standards, digital mapping, and cross-sector partnerships.
Electric: Innovation Is Evolving
Despite U.S.-based skepticism around EV demand, CES 2026 reminded us that electric innovation is alive and well. Our founder Kristina summed it up well:
“Despite what we see in the U.S. around EV production and purchasing trends, the world is continuing to invest in better, lighter, safer batteries. EV innovation is going to continue to lead global car development.”
A standout example? Donut Robotics and Toyota-backed research teams revealed new developments in solid-state batteries, which promise to increase range, lower weight, and improve charging times. According to CNET’s coverage, the tech could reach production as early as 2028.
If that timeline holds, it could mark a turning point for mass EV adoption and reshape the economics of electric fleets and delivery vehicles.
Shared: Still Early, But Getting Smarter
Shared mobility has always been the trickiest part of the ACES framework. Consumer behavior, local policy, and economics all play a role. But Beep’s announcement at CES 2026 signals a more operational future for shared, autonomous transit.
By integrating autonomous tech into public mobility systems, companies like Beep are showing that shared doesn’t have to mean generic or limited. It can be flexible, community-focused, and optimized for efficiency. The success of this next wave of shared mobility will depend on platform reliability, public-private partnerships, and local trust.
Harnessing the CES excitement when your company doesn’t attend
While CES is busy and bustling, it’s also expensive. If your team isn’t attending the conference or hosting a booth, you can still capitalize on the conference remotely.
-
Leverage new data launched at CES to validate your market presence.
Attending vendors often want to ensure they have new and interesting data on hand to hook media conversations and sales meetings. This data often hits remote desks via press release, serving as excellent fodder for your own aligned goals and market growth narrative for proactive pitching. You should also arm your sales teams with this valuable information to further validate ongoing sales efforts.
-
Monitor for competitive announcements.
Be on the lookout for direct competitor announcements or emergent trends in your space to help you build out your media lists, as identifying a reporter who covered your competitor’s news means you can introduce them to your unique POV.
-
Release product announcements ahead of the show.
If you’re not planning to attend CES, grab attention for product announcements before the media goes heads down at the event, which takes place in early January – and before they sign off for the holidays. You can then use the CES hook to gain further momentum and traction around your announcement.
-
Engage influencer relations and SEO.
The CES agenda is finalized months before the event itself takes place. Leveraging key themes to better align your SEO efforts and ensure your company and/or products appear in key searches once the event kicks off will keep you top of mind ahead of the big day. This is also a great time to engage influencers who can help cut through the CES noise in advance, during, and post-show to further validate your company’s product and vision.
Final Thoughts
CES 2026 brought signs of maturity in the mobility sector. From autonomy to connectivity, from electrification to shared service models, the ACES framework is evolving as interlocking systems that require collaboration, investment, and real-world implementation.
The future of mobility relies on synchronized progress. And if the industry keeps pushing past the hype, that future might be closer than we think.
