By SEMA News Editors
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 is taking place through Friday, January 10, in Las Vegas. Several automotive-related updates have taken place during the event, including the following compiled by SEMA News:
Xpeng Aero HT Showcases Modular Flying Car
Xpeng Aero HT, the aerospace arm overseen by the Chinese EV startup Xpeng, has unveiled its Land Aircraft Carrier at CES 2025. The new-age vehicle is an electric minivan featuring a folding electrical vertical takeoff and landing area for the "flying car" component. The flying vehicle features a single-lever control system and one-touch automatic vertical takeoff.
The company plans mass production later this year, with deliveries expected in 2026, and still requires its production certificate in order to do so.
For more information, visit aeroht.com.
Aptera Unveils Production-Ready Solar Electric Vehicle
Aptera Motors has debuted its production-ready solar electric vehicle (sEV), the first solar-powered EV designed to eliminate the need to plug in for most daily driving needs. Aptera's sEV combines cutting-edge engineering with extraordinary capabilities:
- Up to 400 miles of range from a single charge in under an hour.
- Up to 40 miles of free driving per day powered entirely by sunlight.
- Over 10,000 miles per year of solar-powered driving in sunny climates, significantly reducing reliance on grid charging.
This event marks the first public showcase of Aptera's complete solar array, consisting of four panels strategically placed on the hood, dash, roof, and hatch of the vehicle, alongside its production body structure, which is built from carbon fiber sheet molding compound.
For more information, visit aptera.us.
Honda 0 Saloon and Honda 0 SUV Prototypes Make Global Debut at CES
Honda presented the world premiere of the first two models in the company's new 0 Series line of battery EVs at CES 2025: the Honda 0 SUV and Honda 0 Saloon prototypes. Production models based on both prototypes will launch in North America in 2026, followed by global markets. Honda also debuted its original vehicle operating system (OS), the ASIMO OS, for use in Honda 0 Series models.
Additionally, Honda announced an agreement with Renesas Electronics Corporation to develop a high-performance system-on-chip, to be introduced on the next generation of 0 Series models in the late 2020s, as well as a new energy service through the Home Energy Management System to enable customers to enjoy a stress-free EV ownership experience with reduced environmental impact.
For more information, visit the Honda announcement.
'Toyota Woven City,' a Test Course for Mobility, Completes Phase 1 Construction and Prepares for Launch
At CES 2025, Toyota Motor Corporation announced the completion of Phase 1 construction of Toyota Woven City, its test course for mobility located at the former site of Toyota Motor East Japan's Higashi-Fuji Plant in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
The official launch of Phase 1 is planned for fall 2025 or shortly thereafter.
Woven City will be a test course for mobility where "Inventors" who share a commitment to working "for someone other than themselves" can develop, test, and validate innovative products and services, Toyota stated.
For more information, read the Toyota announcement.
Stellantis Motorsports Selects Intel as Technology Partner
Stellantis Motorsports has selected Intel as a key technology partner and is adopting the adaptive control technology into its next-generation inverter control for enhanced performance and efficiency in competitive racing environments. In this implementation, the Intel technology will control the electric motor and recover energy during braking phases. The inverter plays a crucial role during a Formula E race, where any gain in efficiency is transformed into a precious competitive advantage.
Hyundai Motor and Kia's Open Innovation Platforms Drive Global Advancement With 10 Startup Partnerships
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation's global open innovation platforms, ZER01NE and Hyundai CRADLE, participate in CES 2025 from January 7-10, 2025. This joint exhibition highlights Hyundai Motor and Kia's commitment to empowering ZER01NE and CRADLE worldwide.
ZER01NE VENTURES, Hyundai Motor and Kia's Creative Talent Platform, identifies and fosters collaborations with visionary startups to develop innovative solutions addressing societal challenges. Over the past seven years, it has invested in 107 startups through ZER01NE Fund I/II combined and executed 144 collaborative projects as of the first half of 2024. Since its inception in 2000, ZER01NE has spun off 36 in-house ventures.
Hyundai CRADLE, Hyundai Motor Group's global open innovation hub, operates in Silicon Valley, Tel Aviv, Berlin, Beijing, and Singapore, leveraging the technological strengths of each region to identify and invest in emerging innovative startups. To date, CRADLE has executed 141 projects and made 46 investments.
For more information, visit the Kia announcement.