Episode 14

CES 2026: Automotive UX Recap

Published on: 15th January, 2026

Every year the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas provides a glimpse into the strategies of automakers and suppliers. Derek walked the show floor to assess where the automotive world is headed. Join us as we discuss AI, new in-cabin experiences, Derek's robotaxi ride, and what was missing from this year's show. In Condensed Soup, Chris and Derek share their personal CES hacks.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music RSS Feed

About the Podcast

UX Soup

Bite-sized human-centered design insights

Join Chris Schreiner, Derek Viita, and Lisa Schreiner from User Driven Strategies as they discuss the latest developments impacting the user experience, whether in the car, at home, or on the go. Examine the state of the UX and human factors professions, listen to interviews from leading practitioners in industry and academia, and hear the team discuss the latest products and services from a human-centered design perspective.

About your hosts

Chris Schreiner

Chris has 25 years of experience in automotive HF and UX, working for automotive OEMs, suppliers, academic research institutions, and consultancies, providing objective and actionable guidance impacting design.

Chris has over 20 years of experience in UX and human factors research, and has successfully led projects globally for clients in the automotive and wireless industries.

Derek Viita

Derek is a human factors expert who helps tech companies, research orgs, and consultancies build safe and useful things. His passion is automotive UX, with 2 decades of specialized expertise. Beyond cars, his work has spanned mobile devices, physical workstations, virtual telecom platforms, mobile payment, and more.

Derek has produced live research, workshops, and conference presentations on 3 continents, and is a named author on over a dozen peer-reviewed papers and technical reports.