At CES 2025 in Las Vegas, the world’s biggest tech and automotive names gathered to showcase the latest advancements in smart vehicles, with a clear focus on automation, immersive infotainment, and seamless connectivity.
This year’s standouts included everything from Level 3 self-driving EVs to in-cabin AI assistants, and next-gen digital dashboards that blur the line between car and computer.
BMW’s Panoramic iDrive and HUD Integration
BMW unveiled its next-generation Panoramic iDrive system — a wide, wraparound digital display that integrates with the entire windshield to project augmented reality (AR) information directly onto the road. Speed, navigation cues, and vehicle alerts appear in the driver’s natural line of sight, minimizing distraction.
The display adapts in real time, changing layouts depending on driving mode, passenger preferences, or external conditions. It’s expected to debut on BMW’s Neue Klasse electric vehicles in 2026.
Honda 0 Series: EVs with Level 3 Autonomy
Honda introduced its futuristic 0 Series: the Saloon and the Space-Hub—both electric vehicles built with advanced driver-assistance hardware. The Saloon will launch with Level 3 autonomous capabilities, allowing for hands-off, eyes-off driving under limited conditions (such as highway traffic jams).
Key specs:
- Dual-motor AWD
- Estimated 300+ mile range
- Steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire architecture
- Advanced voice-controlled cabin with built-in AI assistant
Honda says it will begin global production of the 0 Series in 2026.
Connectivity: Always-On Smart Vehicles
Connectivity took center stage with several automakers showcasing V2X (vehicle-to-everything) technology and persistent 5G cloud integration:
- Mercedes-Benz revealed a prototype that seamlessly syncs driver profiles across vehicles via a new “Mercedes ID Cloud”, using AI to tailor seat positions, climate, and media.
- Stellantis introduced Stellar, a tri-network solution that fuses cellular, satellite, and Wi-Fi signals to ensure continuous online service for autonomous and emergency systems—even in remote areas.
Toyota’s Woven City: The Future of Smart Urban Driving
Toyota brought CES attendees inside its Woven City, a prototype smart city under construction near Mount Fuji, Japan. The city features roads optimized for autonomous shuttles, AI-enabled infrastructure that communicates with vehicles, and homes with direct connectivity to mobility services.
Toyota is using the site as a live testing ground for self-driving cars, hydrogen power, and smart grid technology—all tied together by cloud AI.
What It All Means
CES 2025 confirmed that smart vehicles are no longer just futuristic concepts—they’re becoming practical, production-ready platforms. From autonomous highway driving to immersive digital dashboards and AI-enhanced in-cabin experiences, the next wave of vehicles will be computers on wheels—and CES showed just how close we are.
