SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is still a popular destination for the world of computers, mobile devices and home electronics, but automotive technology is quickly becoming a top focus for show exhibitors and exhibitors, reports Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information. This year CES plays host to 488 car technology exhibitors, making the show almost as critical to the auto industry as traditional shows like this week’s North American International Auto Show half a continent away in Detroit.
“Within the last five years, CES has become an ideal venue for vehicle brands to unveil their latest and greatest gadgets,” says Edmunds.com Senior Technology Editor Doug Newcomb. “The auto industry’s growing involvement in CES underscores the reality that many consumers are more interested in the technological advances inside the cabin rather than under the hood.”
Some of the automotive innovations showcasing at the 2012 CES include:
Roximity – This debut app found exclusively in Ford’s Sync infotainment system provides a driver with real-time discounts that are linked to their locations and are based on personal preferences. So, a driver passing a favorite restaurant can be given verbal alerts on specials and daily deals.
MyLink – General Motors created this in-dash system with electronics giant LG for lowest price vehicles Chevy Sonic and Chevy Spark. The technology is designed to use a smartphone’s apps to access cloud-based content and navigation
Drive Style – Mercedes-Benz’s new iPhone app will sync up with the brand’s 2013 model year vehicles to appear on an in-dash display, making the iPhone’s familiar interface available for drivers with minimal distraction
Viper SmartStart 3.0 – Remote engine-starting systems are old hat by now, but the new release from Directed Electronics adds the ability to show drivers the car’s current temperature on their smartphones so they can make sure the cabin is comfy before they get into the car.
Edmunds.com’s full preview of the top automotive technology on display at CES – including a look at new car stereo innovations from industry leaders Pioneer and Kenwood – can be found athttp://www.edmunds.com/car-
Edmunds.com is also filing live updates from CES from Edmunds’ InsideLine.com’s Straightline blog at http://blogs.insideline.com/
About Edmunds.com, Inc. (http://www.edmunds.com/help/
Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its revered mobile site, Android App and five-star iPhone app makes car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and on the go. Its automotive enthusiast Web site, InsideLine.com, is the most-read car publication of its kind. Its highly regarded mobile site and iPhone app features the wireless Web’s most comprehensive gallery of automotive photos and videos. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on Twitter@edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/