General Motors made a big splash, no… a cannonball, when it revealed the production 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show.
The event, which used to merely house tech giants such as Google, LG and more, has quickly become a go-to place for automakers to showcase their latest in-car technology, electric propulsion methods, connectivity and more. However, GM has no plans to be present this year.
GM told us in a statement:
The Consumer Electronics Show continues to be a key venue for GM to announce and demonstrate new technologies. At CES 2016, GM introduced the world to a number of new vehicle and connectivity innovations to great acclaim, including the Chevrolet Bolt EV, recipient of a Best of CES award.
While GM does not have an exhibit at CES 2017, we will have several team members attending the show, serving as speakers and conducting important business meetings. We will continue to look for opportunities to use future shows to introduce media and customers to new vehicle technologies.
The news comes as somewhat of a surprise, considering the recent developments with Cruise Automation, GM’s Super Cruise technology and other various areas of car connectivity. It seems even IBM Watson and OnStar were deemed too minute to make a big enough splash to divert resources for CES.
But, we’re expecting a large presence at the 2017 North American International Auto Show, which falls just after CES. We could even see the 2018 C7 Corvette ZR1 break cover.
Comments
GM must show the 2017 Bolt EV again at the CES, and allow the viisting public to do test drives on real vehicles, then pass their contacts to GM dealers. That will make more potential sales than any other marketing program or ads.
This is cutting edge stuff here and if you bring the same thing again people will just pass it by. This also is not a cheap event to put on so it really would not be nearly as news worthy or productive as last years.
What would be productive this year is to go to the auto shows with a fleet of Bolts for the people who really buy cars a chance to drive them. Not only could they drive them outside at many events but a track inside the building if large enough could be provided. Here in Cleveland and even Detroit with the Impact they had an indoor track for driving and riding.
The CES is an event for leading edge new products not the ones you showed last year.
Best for GM if they have nothing new this year to skip one year and premier something totally new and cutting edge.
It is to the point Apple and Samsung are having trouble wowing them with their new products so they are hard to impress here.
It also is not unusual for automakers anymore to skip even auto shows unless they really have something to offer. It is happening more and more as companies are not wanting to dump a lot of money at an event that only brings marginal results.
The ride and drives at the local auto shows would bring this to the entire country not just to the people who go to Vegas. More bang for the buck this time. Keeping in mind the media would not cover the Bolt much as they already have and are in other ways now.
GM to bring Chevy Bolts to Auto shows…that is a really good idea.
I go to the Cleveland IX center for the Auto Show and I would take one for a spin if it was there.
Scott you need to get that word out to General Motors.
Thanks but they already know it as this is where I got the Idea.
I have driven the Volt at the Cleveland show two times. I also drove a Hydrogen powered Equinox one year at the event.
The one year they even had a test track look inside in the west haul where the public could drive a number of calls indoor before they moved the old cars upstairs.
Jeep and Ram even has an indoor ride along.
All these options have been used and I expect they will be used again.
Just showing up to the CES again with something you showed last year would be like Apple showing up to this years show with a I6 phone. Most techies would just go Ehhh!
At the CES you must keep it cutting edge if you want to stand out.
CES has become more expensive, and TSA security has really made the show a disaster to attend. This isn’t a stadium, it’s spread across at least four different venues.
I haven’t been since 2015 and I have no plans to return this year.