While general trends at CES 2026 centered on AI, something else stood out in the automotive world. Every major car manufacturer I encountered was going all in on their vehicle’s infotainment systems — which includes the screen, audio, and what you can do on both.
When you think about it, this makes a lot of sense. There aren’t too many “bad” cars these days, and if you’re producing something high end there are fewer areas where you can really stand out. So infotainment is becoming the next major automotive battleground. Horsepower is making way for Hertz. Dash size might be more important than wheelbase length. Here is how three of the biggest automakers are handling infotainment going forward, and why you might be spending your evenings sat in your vehicle instead of your living room.
I can’t do BMW’s new display justice
Car photography is harder than it looks. It’s especially hard when you;re trying to photograph something extremely reflective (like a screen) in an extremely bright environment (the middle of Nevada at 10 am). Then there’s the fact a photo is a photo, and the camera is a limiting factor. Like if LG releases a new 12K TV capable of displaying 100 trillion colors, that’s great. But the photograph I show you of it is going to be in whatever resolution and color palette the device I’m shooting with is capable of.
So, unfortunately, you’re stuck using the above image as a bit of a guide, and will have to actually hunt down an iX3 if you want to view the new “Panoramic iDrive” display. The display itself is a customizable dash-length bar projected just below the windscreen. It’s astoundingly sharp and has a perfect amount of brightness. It’s also easy enough to ignore if you just want to look at the road.
In addition to the beautiful display, the infotainment system also has the “AI-powered BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant” backing it. This includes Alexa + integration, which means it works seamlessly with Amazon Music and various other services.
Your next Mercedes is basically a home cinema
BMW isn’t the only German automotive giant going all in on infotainment. Mercedes granted me a little time in the upcoming all-electric GLC, and it sort of made me want to live there. The seats are obscenely comfortable, the interior is beautifully designed, and in tactile terms everything is as pleasant to touch as it is to look at.
Once you get past the comfort factor, it’s time to focus on the infotainment factor. Mercedes has installed one of the biggest on-dash displays I’ve ever seen in the GLC. The frankly stunning “39.1-inch MBUX Hyperscreen” is impossible to miss, and has enough space to entertain whoever is sat in the driver’s seat, while also giving the front passenger a large, independent, tablet-sized space to work with. Then there’s the sound system, which involves 13 speakers and is expertly crafted by Burmester. If that wasn’t enough, Dolby’s Atmos system is also on board, adding further depth to things like audio books and supported music.
The GLC’s infotainment is powered by the new MB.OS operating system, while the AI components use elements from both Microsoft and Google. There’s a lot of tech going into things like self-driving too, which I’m hoping to get hands-on with closer to the highly-anticipated SUV’s US launch date.
Your car can double as a Playstation 5
Sony’s AFEELA is a mobility-focused EV which is finally set to hit the road in around a year. It was built in collaboration with Honda and features some pretty decent self-driving tech along with automatic doors and various other ADAS features.
The Sony involvement with the AFEELA is pretty clear. You even get a built-in Playstation 5, which means you can relax in the back and kick a few people around on Tekken 8 while you wait for the vehicle to charge. I’d have mentioned Grand Theft Auto 6 in the last line, but the odds are the AFEELA will be a relic rusting away in junkyards or plinthed in some museum by the time the next GTA actually gets released. The PS5 comes as standard on all of the vehicle’s trims, and is a pretty stand-out feature on the whole. Other OEMs should take note, especially if their vehicles may require me to spend some time parked at a charging station.
Up front, you’ll have a customizable full-dash display (there’s a pattern here), and a yoke-style steering wheel to ensure you can see all of it at all times. In addition to various customizable themes, you’ll be able to watch TV and movies from Sony’s frankly massive catalogue. Provided you aren’t moving at the time.
