What the Aftermarket Needs to Know from CES 2026

Stacey Miller: 0:13

Welcome to Auto Care on Air, a candid podcast for a curious industry. I'm Stacy Miller, Vice President of Communications at the Auto Care Association. And this is Traction Control, where we chat about recent news from the global to the local level and what it may mean to the industry featuring guests on the front lines. Let's roll. The automotive world has just returned from CES in Las Vegas, where tech and mobility collided in one of the most influential tech shows of the year. Today we're breaking down the biggest CES 2026 automotive trends and crucially for the automotive aftermarket, how you can capitalize on them. From AI-driven vehicles to new partnerships, this year's show wasn't just about the concept cars. It was about real, actionable tech that's going to shape how cars get serviced, upgraded, and accessorized for years to come. So let's talk a little bit about the AI and the software-defined vehicles, which seems to be the new core of automotive engineering. So one clear theme at CES was the rise of automotive AI and software-defined vehicles. OEMs and suppliers alike are shifting focus from hardware alone to software first, where centralized computing platforms define everything from vehicle safety to user experience. But why does this matter? Cars of the future, which kind of feels like the cars of now, will be continuously updated just like your cell phone. And this demands software and data-centric aftermarket services. So there are some opportunities for the aftermarket, and those include partnering with software calibration providers to offer vehicle updates post-sale, training technicians on software diagnostics and upgrades for multiple platforms, and selling subscription-ready hardware, say that five times fast, interfaces that enable OTA, which means over-the-air aftermarket upgrades. This isn't far off. At CES, there was something called NVIDIA Alpameo, a suite of open source AI models and tools that help autonomous systems, that help autonomous systems rather think. And it's like an academic level shift to AI tools that seems like it's gonna unlock new markets for aftermarket diagnostics and calibration. So here's one actionable aftermarket tip develop and certify training modules in automotive software diagnostics and autonomous system troubleshooting. Now, the next thing that we examined were connected cockpits and smart vehicles. So CES is a technology show, as you know. It isn't your typical auto show, but we did see major strides in connected vehicle tech from massive panoramic screens on the Sony Honda Aphila 1 EV to Sarence AI's agentic voice platform. And that ties navigation, climate, and productivity all through voice. So why is this big for the aftermarket? Vehicles are going to increasingly rely on connected hardware and smart sensors. That's just the future. So that means that there are aftermarket opportunities to become a certified installer for upgraded HMI, which means human-machine interface systems and displays. We could also be providing voice assistant upgrades or assisting with retrofitting emerging AI voice control systems and packaging infotainment protection plans like screen protectors, software support, extended warranties. The screen just went out on my Dodge Charger. Hilarious. And for instance, aftermarket retailers can stock and install modular infotainment accessories compatible with voice and AI systems. So that's a growth segment as consumer expectations for this technology evolve. Now, we could not talk about vehicle technology without talking about advanced driver assistance ADOS and safety innovations, of which we saw a lot of. So from sophisticated radar to LIDAR combos, that was front and center. Qualcomm and other partners, they were highlighting collaborative platforms for scalable ADOS compute and perception systems. And something straight out of science fictions. A company called Autolive unveiled a foldable steering wheel that retracts during autonomous driving, showing how interior components are adapting to autonomy. Like it just sucked itself into the steering column. Okay, so there is an aftermarket opportunity here as well. And ADOS and active safety systems are complex and sensitive tech, but there's a huge need for calibration services after lane sensor or crash repairs, certified ADOS installers. We've been hearing that a lot in the aftermarket, aftermarket ADOS sensor covers and protective accessories, and data-driven fleet safety services for commercial customers. ADOS calibration in particular is an aftermarket skill that's only going to grow as more vehicles ship with advanced driver sensors. Of course, robotaxis and autonomous commercial mobility was also in the spotlight. And autonomy isn't just theory anymore. Both Waymo's next gen OHI robotaxi and Uber's collaboration with Lucid, Neuro, and Nvidia were shown in prototype form at CES. This tech matters because of the commercial deployment of autonomous fleets is near. For the aftermarket, that could mean developing services for fleet maintenance and remote diagnostics, training technicians on autonomy-specific hardware replacement, and partnerships with mobility providers to host strategic service centers. So get ahead by building autonomous fleet service programs. These vehicles will demand aftermarket infrastructure just like traditional fleets. Something else we observed was open source innovation and industry collaboration. So one announcement that may not have hit mainstream headlines, but should is the expansion of a major open source automotive software initiative, now including more than 30 companies in the global supply chain. For the aftermarket, open source stacks really mean lower barriers to entry for developing compatible software tools, easier third-party diagnostics and repair tools, and participation in community-driven automotive software ecosystems. Smart automotive players should explore open source toolkits and partner with publishers to develop compatible testing and calibration products. There was also a lot of really cool tech and unexpected mobility trends. So CES threw a few curveballs, like Will IM's Trinity, an AI-powered three-wheeler that blurs the lines between mobility and digital assistant devices. And beyond cars, electric motorbikes, e-bikes, seaplanes, and trailer innovations, we're showcasing CES as a mobility show as much as it is an automotive show. So what's the aftermarket angle? You gotta think parts. Mobility tech expansion creates aftermarket niches. So two and three-wheel aftermarket parts and accessories, charging solutions, connectors, solar trailer add-ons, cross-selling smart connected accessories for non-car platforms, the future of the aftermarket isn't just cars, it's the entire mobility ecosystem. So CES 2026, this was a really quick wrap-up, but it just made one thing clear, and that is that software, AI, connectivity, and autonomy are a driving force in vehicle tech. So for the automotive aftermarket, this isn't just a future trend. It's a right now opportunity. If there are things that you saw at CES that you want to hear about, shoot me a note. I'd love to hear about it. Let's dig into some of these topics. And don't forget that when technology accelerates, the aftermarket has to be right there in the driver's seat. Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Auto Care on Air. 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