Industry watchers have for years claimed that CES has turned into an auto show, maybe even the most important auto show of the year. But TechCrunch’s Kirsten Korosec couldn’t help but notice that not one American automaker could be found at this year’s event, unless you count VW Group’s U.S. spinoff Scout Motors. Several Chinese automakers filled that void, notably Zeekr, the EV brand owned by China’s Geely Holdings.
What’s the reasoning behind their absence? Well, it could be attributed to the normal product cycle, which in the automotive industry tends to be much longer than other consumer electronics. Regardless, walking the floor of West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center — where virtually all vehicle tech can be found — the lack of U.S. automakers is certainly notable.
