The auto sector is in the spotlight this week at the world's largest personal electronics show -- 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), where vehicles are getting faster, more sustainable, and capable of reaching new heights.
At CES, Chinese EV maker Zeekr shows off a car that can go from 0 to 100 km/h in about two seconds.
Some of its EV's will also now be equipped with their Golden Battery 2 -- the world's fastest charging battery in mass production.
"It can rise up to 300 kilometers in less than five minutes of charging. So, in that way, you best can use your electrical vehicle as convenient as refueling your gasoline vehicle," said Zhu Ling, vice president of Zeekr.
Other companies are taking transformation features to another level.
For instance, an electric vertical take-off landing aircraft, or eVTOL, can lift off from wherever the van transports it to.
"Due to our precise docking system, it's attachable and detachable very quick. In three minutes, it will be released. And then you just unfold the arms and jump into the cockpit. It's super easy," said Wang Tan, co-founder of Xpeng AeroHT.
The re-packing doesn't require any skill either as it's completely automated.
Tim Lum is the proud owner of an eVTOL made by the company Pivotal, which is showing off its latest model called Helix.
"I just tell the computer very simply where I want to go with simple joystick commands, and it doesn't let me go too fast or over torque or over bank. It has a radar altimeter to do the automatic takeoff and landings. It's pretty incredible," said Tim Lum, an eVTOL owner.
Since EV car owners deal with the fear of running out of battery power, Pivotal's product marketing director dispel such anxiety for eVTOL fliers.
"We've got a lot of, alerts, audible and visual alerts and backup LEDs that will blink at you, to make sure you're very aware of the state of charge. And then our training program, we teach awareness of those things and flight planning. And there is a ballistic parachute on board to add to the safety if somehow you've pushed it way too far," said Greg Kerr, product marketing director of Pivotal.
"I'm able to literally pull this out of my two-car carport into my driveway and then take a 20-minute flight. That can be at sunrise or sunset, or it can be a run to the grocery store to get some milk and eggs. Or it can be to go to my neighbors who lives one bridge over. And I just saved 30 minutes of driving. And it's just so gorgeous to fly, especially in the morning," said Tim Lum.
The 2025 CES, the world's premier tech show, officially kicked off in Las Vegas, the United States on Tuesday. The annual event, running from Tuesday to Friday, has drawn more than 4,500 exhibitors from more than 160 countries and regions, including about 1,400 start-ups, according to the U.S. Consumer Technology Association (CTA), organizer of the event.
Auto industry leaders unveil latest electric, autonomous vehicle tech at CES 2025
