CES 2026 Up Close: Autonomy, Robots, & the Line Between Hype and Reality
Tue Jan 20 2026
In this episode of Automotive Fleet’s State of the Fleet Industry video series, Chris Brown sits down with auto industry analyst and media veteran Charlie Vogelheim to break down the fleet-relevant takeaways from CES 2026.
From autonomous vehicles and driverless trucks to robotics, AI, and next-generation batteries, Vogelheim shares what stood out on the show floor. He highlights where real progress is being made and where concepts remain years away from commercial viability.
🧭 Key topics include:
• Why CES has become the mobility industry’s most important event
• How AI is reshaping vehicles, factories, and fleet operations
• The current reality of autonomous cars, robotaxis, and driverless trucks
• Battery and energy innovations that could redefine fleet electrification
• What fleet managers should watch — and what remains hype
📰 Make sure you're signed up for the AF newsletter so you don't miss another State of the Fleet Industry video ➡ https://bob.dragonforms.com/loading.d...
🚗 Visit Automotive Fleet for more fleet industry content ➡ https://www.automotive-fleet.com
🎧 Prefer to listen? Check out the State of the Fleet Industry podcast! State of the Fleet Industry on: Apple Podcasts ➡ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify ➡ https://open.spotify.com/show/6UwWmKI...
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In this episode of Automotive Fleet’s State of the Fleet Industry video series, Chris Brown sits down with auto industry analyst and media veteran Charlie Vogelheim to break down the fleet-relevant takeaways from CES 2026. From autonomous vehicles and driverless trucks to robotics, AI, and next-generation batteries, Vogelheim shares what stood out on the show floor. He highlights where real progress is being made and where concepts remain years away from commercial viability. 🧭 Key topics include: • Why CES has become the mobility industry’s most important event • How AI is reshaping vehicles, factories, and fleet operations • The current reality of autonomous cars, robotaxis, and driverless trucks • Battery and energy innovations that could redefine fleet electrification • What fleet managers should watch — and what remains hype 📰 Make sure you're signed up for the AF newsletter so you don't miss another State of the Fleet Industry video ➡ https://bob.dragonforms.com/loading.d... 🚗 Visit Automotive Fleet for more fleet industry content ➡ https://www.automotive-fleet.com 🎧 Prefer to listen? Check out the State of the Fleet Industry podcast! State of the Fleet Industry on: Apple Podcasts ➡ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify ➡ https://open.spotify.com/show/6UwWmKI...