As the transformation of the auto industry comes into sharper focus, CES in Las Vegas has quietly evolved from a technology showcase into a bellwether for the global car business. In recent years, CES was often jokingly described as a "world-class auto show," dominated by demonstrations of the industry's shift from internal combustion engines to electric drivetrains. However, starting in 2025, the frenzy of brand and component competition began to cool. By CES 2026, the center of gravity had unmistakably shifted.
At least one of the US Air Force's most secretive drones, the RQ-170 Sentinel, may have supported the US operation on January 3 that saw the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, according to foreign media reports and analysis by defense observers.
Rising use of commercial drones in logistics, energy inspection, surveying, and infrastructure monitoring is reshaping demand for microcontrollers and edge-computing components. The shift is pushing suppliers beyond basic motor control and toward higher-performance flight systems.
Taiwan-based microcontroller supplier ARTERY Technology is sharpening its focus on edge artificial intelligence and drone-related applications as it prepares for a planned listing on the Taipei Exchange in late January 2026, seeking growth beyond China's crowded MCU market.
China has maintained a clear lead over the US in drone-related technology patents since 2016, highlighting a widening technology gap as Taiwan seeks to expand its domestic drone industry and reduce reliance on China-centric supply chains. The divergence underscores the scale of the challenge facing Taiwan at a time when governments worldwide are accelerating procurement of unmanned systems and reassessing supply chain security.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will block the sale of foreign-made drones in the US, a decision believed to target Chinese market leader DJI and could prompt Taiwanese suppliers to accelerate investment in US manufacturing.
