For Mathieu Roy, techno columnist at Salut Bonjour, each start of the year is marked by the show Consumer Electronics Show. Although he was unable to physically attend the 2022 edition due to the outbreak of the Omicron variant, he has followed remotely and with attention the many unveilings of this event which is being held in Las Vegas.
To discuss it, Mathieu Roy was invited to the show Le Guide de l’Auto on QUB Radio hosted by Antoine Joubert and Germain Goyer
What is CES?
First of all, let’s clarify what the Consumer Electronics Show is.
“CES is 54 years old. It is a huge trade fair for consumer technology. So all the products presented at this event are not products that will be available in five or ten years. Some products are presented at CES and their marketing is imminent. Over time, we have seen products such as videocassettes, compact discs, Xbox, flat TVs, computers and 3D printing, ”says Mathieu Roy.
“In 2020, there were 171,000 visitors, it was long before the Covid. We’re talking about 4,000 to 4,500 exhibitors and there are around 20,000 new products, ”recounts the one who is a loyal visitor to the event.
Sony tries foray into the automotive industry
The automobile being an increasingly technological object, it is not surprising that it occupies a growing place in this type of show. This year was no exception with no less than 185 brands present on site that had a link with the automobile. This is the case, among others, of Sony, which has reiterated its interest in marketing a vehicle.
“I was at the Sony presentation in 2020, when, at the very end, they brought in a car and nobody expected it. It was the Vision-S which was nothing more or less than a sort of display of their know-how and expertise on board a vehicle. And this year, Sony persists and signs with the Vision S-02, an electric vehicle with seven seats. It was also announced that Sony was literally going to have a car division, ”says Roy.
Mobility with a capital M
Over the past few years, it has been noticed that car manufacturers are increasingly interested in mobility in the broad sense and not just in traditional vehicles. And according to Mathieu Roy, “this is how automakers are going to survive. “
He adds that “Hyundai has said in recent years that it is an automobile manufacturer and that it is now a mobility company. So what they want is to transport products, people and goods. We are completely reviewing business models because car ownership is going to change, especially in densely populated urban areas. “
News of the week
During this program, it was also about the electric Chrysler Airflow, the Chevrolet Silverado EV 2024 as well as the three new electric SUVs presented by VinFast.
Road tests
The two hosts also gave their impressions of the 2022 Kia Niro EV and 2021 GMC Sierra tested.
Answers to readers’ questions
Antoine Joubert and Germain Goyer answer questions from the public regarding fuel economy chips sold online, the type of gasoline to use with a 2022 Volvo XC60 as well as the transfer of the lease of a 2020 Kia Soul.
The Car Guide, it’s every Saturday at 10 a.m. on QUB Radio, on Sunday at 2 p.m.