On the 6th (local time), at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) where CES 2026, the world's largest home appliance and IT show, opened, several global mobility corporations showcased a range of new technologies applying Humanoid Robot and artificial intelligence (AI). Not only finished carmakers but also parts suppliers and construction machinery manufacturers unveiled robot- and AI-related technologies in quick succession.
A mobility industry official on site said, "Last year Tesla commercialized FSD (Full Self-Driving), and many finished car corporations will equip full autonomous driving technologies going forward," adding, "The era of competing with only traditional forms of automobiles is likely to come to an end."
The official explained, "Robots are the field that can evolve the fastest by leveraging technologies already held by mobility corporations such as automakers," adding, "For this reason, several companies are actively moving to develop markets applying robots and AI."
◇ From opening to just before closing, long lines at the Hyundai booth
In the West Hall of the LVCC, where mobility corporations gathered, the most crowded spot was the Hyundai Motor Group pavilion. The queue of visitors waiting to enter the Hyundai Motor Group pavilion stretched about 40 meters. A sign at the end of the line read, "About 45 minutes to enter."
Only two cars appeared in the Hyundai pavilion that day: an Ioniq 5 robotaxi and an EV6 assisting with a parking robot demo. The star attraction that captured visitors' attention was "Atlas," an electric Humanoid Robot unveiled for the first time by Boston Dynamics, an affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group.
When the Atlas research model demonstrated taking out a part and moving it elsewhere, visitors pulled out their phones and began filming. Boston Dynamics' quadruped robot "Spot" raised the arm mounted on its back and moved its gripper to interact with visitors, and it also climbed stairs to service piping.
Interest was also strong in MobED, a mobility robot platform that the Hyundai Robotics Lab unveiled for the first time at CES 2026. When a Hyundai Motor Group official rode and moved on the "MobED Urban Hopper," a scooter-style version of the four-wheeled MobED, exclamations broke out across the venue, and some visitors asked about commercialization timing and how to purchase it.
There was also a hands-on area for Hyundai's industrial wearable robot "ExoBlow Shoulder," and crowds queued up past 5 p.m.
◇ U.S. and Chinese firms also put AI autonomous driving and robots up front
U.S. mobility firms showcased Autonomous Driving and Robotics technologies based on AI. Oshkosh, a maker of specialty vehicles such as fire trucks, unveiled a construction robot end effector. When a camera-equipped lift raised an H-beam (a column shaped like the letter H), an unmanned excavator-shaped robot automatically welded the H-beam. An unmanned robot for airports that transports luggage inside aircraft, "Stryker Volterra," was also displayed.
Agricultural machinery maker John Deere displayed its massive combine "S7" at the center of its booth. The machine harvests 250 ears of corn per second and separates 156,000 kernels. Equipped with cameras and lidar, AI identifies crops, then handles the repetitive tasks of harvesting and sorting. A John Deere official explained, "AI Autonomous Driving technologies in agriculture can be expanded to construction sites."
Japanese construction machinery maker Kubota unveiled the robot platform "KVPR" equipped with a loader. It is operated remotely with a joystick from another location without a person boarding directly. It runs on electric power. However, this loader is a concept model. A Kubota official said, "It is still under research and development at Kubota, and commercialization is currently under review."
Geely Automobile Holdings, a Chinese finished carmaker, unveiled Autonomous Driving technology. Each vehicle's center housed an ultrasonic lidar and a smart electric drive system, among other components. Geely Automobile said it can equip vehicles with a Level 2 to Level 3 Autonomous Driving system using these parts. This refers to capabilities such as automatic lane changes and taking hands off the steering wheel.
◇ Auto parts makers jump into Humanoid Robot
Schaeffler, a German auto parts maker that produces bearings and high-precision components, exhibited actuators for Humanoid Robot at CES 2026. Actuators are components used to move a robot or control its posture and are essential for Humanoid Robot. Schaeffler demonstrated a robot equipped with its actuators moving bearings.
HL Group also put forward robot actuators, autonomous logistics robots, and AI-based solutions. HL Mando unveiled torso and finger actuators for the first time at this CES. HL Mando began developing robot actuators in 2021 and started full-scale development of actuators for humanoids last year. It also showcased "Hatch," a detection sensor that prevents fires by having AI detect electrical spark sensors at data centers, among other sites.