Robotics Take Over CES, U.S. Automakers Fade, and Trump’s EV Gamble Backfires

The Consumer Electronics Show just became a battleground: U.S. automakers are vanishing, robots are everywhere, and Trump’s comments on Chinese EVs are reigniting a war no one asked for.

U.S. automakers have "left the building" at CES 2026, replaced by AV tech firms (Zoox, Waymo), Chinese automakers (Geely, GWM), and "physical AI" startups. Mobileye CEO Amnon Shashua dismissed humanoid robot hype:

"The internet was also a hype in 2000. It does not mean the domain is not real."

Hyundai showcased Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot and electric robot-charging tech at CES. Trump's comments supporting Chinese automaker entry into the U.S. clashed with 2025 import bans on Chinese EVs and warnings from SAFE CEO Avery Ash about "catastrophic impacts" on U.S. security. Canada slashed Chinese EV import tariffs to 6.1%, contrasting with U.S. policy.

Deals included Luminar selling its lidar business for $22M (vs. $11B peak valuation), JetZero raising $175M for fuel-saving aircraft, and Joby Aviation expanding Ohio manufacturing.