US: CES TOYOTA

SOURCE: AP TECHNOLOGY

RESTRICTIONS: TECHNOLOGY CLIENTS ONLY

LENGTH: 3.22

SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Vegas, 5th January 2016

1. Bob Carter, Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations at Toyota, on stage in front of a video presentation

2. SOUNDBITE: Bob Carter, Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations at Toyota:

"Toyota's vision of the future mobility includes two important pathways that we must travel simultaneously. One will eventually provide access to mobility for everyone, no matter what their physical limitations are, via the adoption of fully autonomous technologies, importantly including personal robotics. The other will provide a more immediate reward and as Dr. (Gill) Pratt will describe, is the goal of TRI (Toyota Research Institute) to accelerate machine learning."

3. Pull out from audience members taking photos to presentation on big screen on stage

4. SOUNDBITE: Dr. Gill Pratt, CEO, Toyota Research Institute:

"Number one: We want to enhance the safety of automobiles again with ultimate the goal, as Bob said, of creating a car that is incapable of causing a crash."

5. Audience members taking photos

6. SOUNDBITE: Dr. Gill Pratt, CEO, Toyota Research Institute:

"Number two: We want to increase access to cars to those who cannot otherwise drive this includes people with special needs and seniors. That's the area where we need full autonomy as opposed to driver assist, and stopping accidents from happening."

7. Presentation on car technology on big screen on stage

8. SOUNDBITE: Dr. Gill Pratt, CEO, Toyota Research Institute:

"A team at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) is going to lead a project called 'The Car Can Explain' - a really neat title to get. So this is about teaching machines and AI (artificial technology) systems in particular to tell stories about themselves. Explanatory stories. Autonomous technology strives to be perfect, how do we actually get to that critical point where a car is incapable of causing a crash."

9. Presentation on materials science on big screen on stage

10. SOUNDBITE: Dr. Gill Pratt, CEO, Toyota Research Institute:

"Our interest at Toyota is finding new materials for a number of reasons. Materials that can increase the strength and lower the weight and the cost of cars. It includes materials that can improve the efficiency and lower the cost of fuel sales. Materials for all uses. What we aim to do at TRI in this field is to utilise computation and machine learning to accelerate scientific discovery in this area. To lower the cost and improve the performance of future mobility systems."

11. Toyota Research Institute logo on big screen

12. SOUNDBITE: Gill Pratt, CEO, Toyota Research Institute:

"And this is why Toyota and TRI are working to transform mobility from outdoors to include indoors. In fact, when we think about the love that people have for their cars, home robots may eventually become more even personally prized in the future than cars have been in the past."

13. End of presentation

LEADIN:

Toyota says its vision for the future includes artificial intelligence and robotics.

In automobiles the company aims to create the ultimate car that cannot crash.

But beyond that it is also moving towards producing software, data and robots.

STORYLINE:

Toyota is presenting its vision of the future at CES. Bob Carter, Senior Vice President, Automotive Operations, Toyota explains:

"Toyota's vision of the future mobility includes two important pathways that we must travel simultaneously. One will eventually provide access to mobility for everyone, no matter what their physical limitations are, via the adoption of fully autonomous technologies, importantly including personal robotics. The other will provide a more immediate reward and as Dr. (Gill) Pratt will describe, is the goal of TRI (Toyota Research Institute) to accelerate machine learning."

As part of a USD $1 billion investment, the Toyota Research Institute will open for business this month. Its mandates are to create cars that are incapable of having an accident, create cars that can be driven by the elderly and disabled, research materials that will make cars lighter and more efficient and use artificial intelligence and robotics for both outdoor and indoor mobility technology.

"Number one: We want to enhance the safety of automobiles again with ultimate the goal, as Bob said, of creating a car that is incapable of causing a crash," says Dr. Gill Pratt, CEO of the Toyota Research Institute.

"Number two: We want to increase access to cars to those who cannot otherwise drive this includes people with special needs and seniors. That's the area where we need full autonomy as opposed to driver assist, and stopping accidents from happening," he adds.

Toyota has committed $50 million over the next five years to support collaborative research into artificial intelligence and robotics at Stanford University and MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The programme has funded just under thirty projects that include research into a future vehicle programmed to react to unexpected events such as debris falling off a truck travelling in front of it. The aim is to measure cars for known and unknown risks - creating the ultimate car that cannot crash.

A further project includes teaching machines to tell stories about themselves. The ultimate aim is for an AI car to be able to explain its actions when it does something unexpected in a life or death decision.

"A team at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) is going to lead a project called 'The Car Can Explain' - a really neat title to get. So this is about teaching machines and AI (artificial technology) systems in particular to tell stories about themselves. Explanatory stories. Autonomous technology strives to be perfect, how do we actually get to that critical point where a car is incapable of causing a crash," explains Dr. Pratt.

Toyota is also investing in finding new materials to improve the performance of future automobiles.

"Our interest at Toyota is finding new materials for a number of reasons. Materials that can increase the strength and lower the weight and the cost of cars. It includes materials that can improve the efficiency and lower the cost of fuel sales. Materials for all uses. What we aim to do at TRI in this field is to utilise computation and machine learning to accelerate scientific discovery in this area. To lower the cost and improve the performance of future mobility systems," says Pratt.

Pratt explains that Toyota will no longer be solely a car manufacturer, that it is moving towards software and data including the creation of robots.

"And this is why Toyota and TRI are working to transform mobility from outdoors to include indoors. In fact, when we think about the love that people have for their cars, home robots may eventually become more even personally prized in the future than cars have been in the past," says Pratt.

CES runs until 9 January.

====

Clients are reminded:

(i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com.

(ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service

(iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory.

LEADIN:

Toyota gave the automotive industry a hydrogen-powered kick at the International CES event in Las Vegas.

The Japanese car manufacturers announced they're set to make available thousands of hydrogen fuel cell patents royalty-free, in a bid to encourage the industry.

Toyota's new sporty-looking hydrogen-powered 'Mirai' is the backdrop for the Japanese auto makers press event at the International CES in Las Vegas.

Bob Carter, who is Senior Vice President of automotive operations at Toyota, explains the mechanics of the vehicle.

"The Toyota Mirai is a mid-sized, four-door sedan - its front wheels are driven by electric motors. The electricity that powers the motors is made on-board, on-demand, as needed by simply combining hydrogen with oxygen, producing zero emissions, other than water vapour."

In the middle of his speech - a moment of drama as the power cut.

"I got you covered," assured Carter, as he connected a wire from the Mirai to re-boot the power in the briefing room and light up a mock-up home on stage.

"This Mirai is capable of supplying enough energy to power your home essentials as well as all of your consumer electronics in an average home for up to a week, in the event of an emergency," explains Carter.

But the high-profile event wasn't about announcing a new vehicle or component, but about giving something away.

In a bid to encourage the hydrogen auto industry to flourish, Carter announced that Toyota is set to invite royalty-free use of approximately 5,680 fuel cell related patents.

That includes critical technologies developed for the new 'Mirai' - which means "the future" in Japanese.

The list includes approximately 1,970 patents related to fuel cell stacks, 290 associated with high-pressure hydrogen tanks, 3,350 related to fuel cell systems' software control and 70 patents related to hydrogen production and supply.

By releasing these patents, Toyota are hoping to encourage the industry to flourish.

"It's obvious that there can be a higher societal value in openly sharing our IP," says Carter.

"By eliminating the traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the metabolism of everyone's research and development and move into a future of mobility, quicker, more effectively and more economically."

The Toyota executive ended his speech with a quote from former President Abraham Lincoln.

"'The best way to predict the future, is to create it'. And that's what we're doing at Toyota."

Toyota unveiled the 'Mirai' - their first ever hydrogen-powered vehicle - at a press event in Tokyo in November.

The success of the vehicle and other hydrogen cars depends on an infrastructure growing to encourage drivers to buy them.

Other Asian automakers, Honda and Hyundai, are also experimenting with limited sales and leases of fuel cell cars.

Automotive tech is set to be a big talking point at this year's International CES event in Las Vegas.

A variety of self-driving cars and integrated dashboards will demonstrate how seriously the car industry considers putting smart tech into their vehicles.

A record 10 automotive manufacturers are set to exhibit at the event including Toyota, Ford, BMW, Audi and Mercedes.

Automotive exhibits will cover over 165,000 square feet of event space, 17 percent more than last year.

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will run 6-9 January 2015.

The annual technology event is set to showcase over 3,500 exhibitors including big tech companies like Sony, Samsung and LG.

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 5 January 2015

1. Various of hydrogen-powered Toyota 'Mirai' vehicle

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bob Carter, Senior Vice President, Toyota Motor Sales, Automotive Operations:

"'The future' is what the 'Mirai' means in Japanese, and it's arriving in October this year in the US. The Toyota Mirai is a mid-sized, four-door sedan - its front wheels are driven by electric motors. The electricity that powers the motors is made on-board, on-demand, as needed by simply combining hydrogen with oxygen, producing zero emissions, other than water vapour. Unlike other electric cars that rely on large batteries for power, this Mirai can be re-fuelled, as the doctor (Michio Kaku) said, in three to five minutes and travels up about 300 miles on a single fill-up. It will start up in the morning at minus 30 degrees Centigrade, below zero, and as many of you have already heard...(power cuts out) Wait just a moment, this happened in rehearsal - I got you covered (connects vehicle to power 'home' on stage). Now, as I was saying, as many of you already know - this Mirai is capable of supplying enough energy to power your home essentials as well as all of your consumer electronics in an average home for up to a week, in the event of an emergency."

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bob Carter, Senior Vice President, Toyota Motor Sales, Automotive Operations:

"Traditionally, intellectual properties are fiercely guarded, because they have great monetary value. But with programmes like the CSRC (Collaborative Safety Research Centre) Steve and our patent announcements today - it's obvious that there can be a higher societal value in openly sharing our IP. By eliminating the traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the metabolism of everyone's research and development and move into a future of mobility, quicker, more effectively and more economically. Indeed, I believe that today marks a turning point in automotive history. I'm going to close with a quote that captures the idea from President Abraham Lincoln, who said: 'The best way to predict the future, is to create it'. And that's what we're doing at Toyota."

4. Close of screen reading: "Toyota. #ToyotaMirai"

5. Wide of Carter on stage, UPSOUND: (English) "Please accept my thanks for all of you coming and I hope you enjoy CES tomorrow. Good afternoon"; applause

LEAD IN

Toyota is the latest car manufacturer to unveil a concept vehicle at CES, designed for fully autonomous driving in a connected world.

The company is highlighting the importance of its new artificial intelligence system nicknamed 'Yui'.

STORY-LINE

Toyota's claiming this concept car puts the focus on the user.

According to the company the Concept-i has been created around the philosphy of 'kinetic warmth' - the theory that mobility technology should be fun as well as warm and welcoming.

Key to this type of technology is advanced artifical intelligence that can anticipate people's needs. The idea is that the AI system - nicknamed 'Yui' - allows the vehicle to build a more human relationship with the driver.

Toyota claim their design means the driver can also concentrate on the road more.

Concept-i, therefore, does not have a central console but instead has coloured lights in the footwells to tell you when the vehicle is being driven manually or automatically. Projectors in the rear deck are designed to alert the driver to blind spots.

Yui is also in the exterior door panels so that the AI system can greet people as they approach the vehicle.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 5-8 January 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. More than 3,800 exhibitors are expected to show their products to over 150,000 visitors.

Las Vegas, 4 January 2017

1. Various of the unveiling of Toyota's Concept-i

UPSOUND: (English) Bob Carter, Vice President Toyota Motor Sales

"Now Yui learns from us, grows with us, builds a relationship that is meaningful and emotional...."

2. Car unveiled by Yui, followed by on stage presentation by Bob Carter, Vice President Toyota Motor Sales.

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bob Carter, Vice President Toyota Motor Sales

"It's a design philosophy that's guided every element of the Concept-i's creation, beginning with artificial intelligence. Now it follows our belief that the vehicle of the future should not start with just technology. It should start with the experience of the people who use it. So we built the Concept-i from the inside out, focussing on making it immersive, warm and energetic. With a user experience assistance from the Toyota innovation hub in San Francisco the interior is designed to help support that user experience. Now you'll notice lines flow from the centre of the dashboard throughout the vehicle and Yui can travel around them using light, sound and even touch to communicate critical information. There's an amazing 3D heads up display to help keep the driver's eyes, and most importantly their attention, to the road, but information also appears like magic on the dashboard on the walls on the seats wherever you need it whenever you need it. Even the exterior of the vehical is about building a relationship between the car and the world around it, communicating with others on the road while expressing motion and excitement and even a little bit of magic but this is not just a design story. Now for years we at Toyota said we at Toyota said we need to look beyond simple driver vehicle interface and focus on the driver vehicle relationship. Now thanks to Yui the Concept-i is built to enhance that relationship. This is a vehical that grows with you. The more you drive the smarter Yui gets. It learns to anticipate your needs and that intelligence, it's more than about planning your next route. Yui uses sophisticated biometric systems to monitor the driver's intention and emotions."

4 . Toyota's Concept-i on stage

5 . SOUNDBITE: (Englsih) Professor Gill Pratt, Toyota Research Institute

"Toyota is involved in many aspects of making future cars safer and more accessible. Yui and Concept-i is a small part of that work, but it has the potential for becoming more than a helpful friend. It has the potential for becoming the kind of friend that looks out for you and keeps you safe. It has the potential to become a guardian as well as a chauffeur."

6 . Close zoom into Concept-i rotating on stage

LEAD IN

Toyota is the latest car manufacturer to unveil a concept vehicle at CES, designed for fully autonomous driving in a connected world.

The company is highlighting the importance of its new artificial intelligence system nicknamed 'Yui'.

STORY-LINE

Toyota's claiming this concept car puts the focus on the user.

According to the company the Concept-i has been created around the philosphy of 'kinetic warmth' - the theory that mobility technology should be fun as well as warm and welcoming.

Key to this type of technology is advanced artifical intelligence that can anticipate people's needs. The idea is that the AI system - nicknamed 'Yui' - allows the vehicle to build a more human relationship with the driver.

Toyota claim their design means the driver can also concentrate on the road more.

Concept-i, therefore, does not have a central console but instead has coloured lights in the footwells to tell you when the vehicle is being driven manually or automatically. Projectors in the rear deck are designed to alert the driver to blind spots.

Yui is also in the exterior door panels so that the AI system can greet people as they approach the vehicle.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 5-8 January 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. More than 3,800 exhibitors are expected to show their products to over 150,000 visitors.

Las Vegas, 4 January 2017

1. Various of the unveiling of Toyota's Concept-i

UPSOUND: (English) Bob Carter, Vice President Toyota Motor Sales

"Now Yui learns from us, grows with us, builds a relationship that is meaningful and emotional...."

2. Car unveiled by Yui, followed by on stage presentation by Bob Carter, Vice President Toyota Motor Sales.

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bob Carter, Vice President Toyota Motor Sales

"It's a design philosophy that's guided every element of the Concept-i's creation, beginning with artificial intelligence. Now it follows our belief that the vehicle of the future should not start with just technology. It should start with the experience of the people who use it. So we built the Concept-i from the inside out, focussing on making it immersive, warm and energetic. With a user experience assistance from the Toyota innovation hub in San Francisco the interior is designed to help support that user experience. Now you'll notice lines flow from the centre of the dashboard throughout the vehicle and Yui can travel around them using light, sound and even touch to communicate critical information. There's an amazing 3D heads up display to help keep the driver's eyes, and most importantly their attention, to the road, but information also appears like magic on the dashboard on the walls on the seats wherever you need it whenever you need it. Even the exterior of the vehical is about building a relationship between the car and the world around it, communicating with others on the road while expressing motion and excitement and even a little bit of magic but this is not just a design story. Now for years we at Toyota said we at Toyota said we need to look beyond simple driver vehicle interface and focus on the driver vehicle relationship. Now thanks to Yui the Concept-i is built to enhance that relationship. This is a vehical that grows with you. The more you drive the smarter Yui gets. It learns to anticipate your needs and that intelligence, it's more than about planning your next route. Yui uses sophisticated biometric systems to monitor the driver's intention and emotions."

4 . Toyota's Concept-i on stage

5 . SOUNDBITE: (Englsih) Professor Gill Pratt, Toyota Research Institute

"Toyota is involved in many aspects of making future cars safer and more accessible. Yui and Concept-i is a small part of that work, but it has the potential for becoming more than a helpful friend. It has the potential for becoming the kind of friend that looks out for you and keeps you safe. It has the potential to become a guardian as well as a chauffeur."

6 . Close zoom into Concept-i rotating on stage

LEADIN:

Car maker Toyota's announced it's teaming up with giant online retailer Amazon, restaurant chain Pizza Hut and the taxi services Uber and DiDi to create a new market place with no dividing line separating our lives from online commerce.

The company says it's a game changer turning it from a car manufacturer, to an all-encompassing mobility experience.

STORYLINE:

This is the new e-Palette, which Toyota hopes will transform the way we live and work in a future where fewer people are actually driving cars.

It's a series of modular vehicles which can be anything from a workplace, to a retail outlet to a shared ride.

According to Toyota, the e-Palette's open interior design layout means it can be outfitted with purpose-built interiors in accordance with the user's needs, whether it be for parcel delivery, ride sharing, or on-the-road e-commerce.

Toyota unveiled it's vision of a new age of automation at the Consumer Electronics Show.

The corporation's President Akio Toyoda explains the concept:

"We want the car to be a seamless extension of your phone and computers, a kind of personal assistant on wheels able to anticipate your needs through predictive artificial intelligence. A new mobility service platform is also the engine behind our car sharing test market in Hawaii and San Francisco. In the future much of mobility on demand, or mobility as a service will be powered by autonomy, which in turn is supported by vehicle electrification. Today I am pleased to announce that some of the initial members of our e-Palette alliance includes Amazon, DiDi, Pizza Hut and Uber, Mazda will also be a partner for e-Palette supporting our electrification plans. We want to thank each of these companies for joining us on a new mobility journey."

The company is also teaming up with the car company Mazda who will be a partner in the e-Palette alliance.

Toyoda is keen to dispel any lingering doubts about whether the furture of cars is electric: "Today Toyota offers 37 electrified vehicle models in over 90 countries. By the early 2020s, we'll have more than ten battery electric vehicles available worldwide."

Toyoda revealed he'd learned to drive at the mature age of 51 so that he could understand car design better.

Joking with his audience, he quipped electrification was the only topic of interest around the world apart from the wedding of Prince Harry this year.

He says: "Now I realise that battery electric, or all electric vehicles are what everybody's talking about these days, that and Prince Harry's engagement (audience laughs), but what's not often mentioned today is that less than one per cent of all vehicles sold in the US are battery electric, so there's "

This last comment from a company which has spearheaded the use of electric vehicles for everyday use, is an important prod to the US market.

At the end of the presentation, it was time for a selfie:"Now before I go, I don't often get to hang out with a group such as yourselves. So I'm wondering if it will be okay taking a selfie with you, is that okay? "

The audience at CES clearly approves.

Toyota plans to conduct feasibility testing of the e-Palette Concept in various regions, including the US in the early 2020s.

It also hopes to be the mobility solution of choice at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

CES, Las Vegas, US - 8 January 2017

1. Various of the new Toyota e-Palette

2. Wide zoom out of the live Toyota show at CES showing screen animations of how the e-Palette will be used

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Corporation

"We want the car to be a seamless extension of your phone and computers, a kind of personal assistant on wheels able to anticipate your needs through predictive artificial intelligence. Our new mobility service platform is also the engine behind our car sharing test market in Hawaii and San Francisco. In the future much of mobility on demand, or mobility as a service will be powered by autonomy, which in turn is supported by vehicle electrification. Today, I am pleased to announce that some of the initial members of our e-Palette alliance includes Amazon, DiDi, Pizza Hut and Uber, Mazda will also be a partner for e-Palette supporting our electrification plans. We want to thank each of these companies for joining us on a new mobility journey."

4. Wide of screens at live Toyota show demonstrating how e-Palette will act as a mobile shop and showroom

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Corporation

"Today Toyota offers 37 electrified vehicle models in over 90 countries. By the early 2020s, we'll have more than ten battery electric vehicles available worldwide."

6. Various of screens at live showing animations demonstrating how our transport can become our workspace, retail space and creating on demand cities

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Corporation

"Now I realise that battery electric, or all electric vehicles are what everybody's talking about these days, that and Prince Harry's engagement (audience laughs), but what's not often mentioned is that today is that less than one per cent of all vehicles sold in the US are battery electric."

8. Wide of screens at Toyota's live showing how easily adaptable the e-Palette is

9. UPSOUND: (English) Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Corporation ++Zoom out of Toyoda as he begins to take selfies of himself and the audience++

"Now before I go, I don't often get to hang out with a group such as yourselves. So I'm wondering if it will be okay taking a selfie with you (laughter) is that okay? (applause)."

10. Zoom out of the Toyota team at the end of the show

As thousands of enthusiasts pack the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) for a closer look at the newest tech gadgets, most of the serious talk is about the latest line-up of ultra high-definition TVs and just how thin they are getting.

TVs are grabbing all the headlines at this year's CES.

Electronics makers are responding to consumer demand and that means - make it bigger and thinner.

The Consumer Electronics Association expects TV sales to increase two percent to 251 million units this year.

The average screen size is projected to be 40 inches, up from 31 inches in 2007. CEA predicts more than 23 million of the units will be 4K TVs this year, about 2.5 times the shipments in 2014. That's even with the explosion of viewing on tablets and smart phones.

One of the key drivers in this consumer market is the falling price of the technology.

TVs with 4K capabilities have started to drop below USD $1,000, but they are still a few hundred dollars more than regular sets.

Consumers also will likely have to pay more for 4K content, the way service providers now charge a few dollars more for high-definition downloads. Netflix charges $12 for a streaming plan that supports 4K versus $9 for regular formats, for example.

However with the latest compression technology, consumers should be able to view 4K video with standard broadband packages, though the experience will be better with higher, pricier tiers.

Even more streaming is expected as content providers hop on the online train alongside the TV makers. Tensions likely will increase between content distributors and Internet access providers over who's going to pay for network upgrades - and how those costs might get passed down to consumers.

South Korean electronics maker LG is showing off its latest range of OLED (organic light emitting diode) 4K sets at CES.

Scott Steinberg, a technology analyst for TechSavvy.com gives his verdict of the latest range at the show.

He says: "So the ultra-thin TVs are certainly the latest examples of what you can see out of a company like Sony or LG. They're going to be moving towards higher definition, they're going to be moving towards picks a resolution that's much greater than anything you've seen before and going to be putting more and more of an emphasis on sleek, slim and well-designed products that are specifically designed to catch the eye and not just in terms of what's showing on their screens."

Japanese maker Sony went for the ultra-thin design with a new model that is just 4.9 millimeters.

The super slim device is certainly stealing a lot of the attention on the show floor.

Jeremy Breitkreuze, a spokesman for Sony explains: "It's coming out at 4.9 millimeters or .2 inches. A cool thing is that it does come with a wall mount, so that tv can be mounted against a wall and almost floating with a somewhat edgeless design. So when it's mounted to the wall it comes out at only about 4 centimetres."

Connectivity is an important part of the latest range of TV sets with more customers expecting the same level of functionality as they find on their smart phones.

"It's got our new Android operating system platform for the user interface, which allows you to do anything you can do on your phone, or imagine doing on your phone, you can now do on the TV itself," says Breitkreuze.

LG is also showing off its new G Flex 2, the successor to its popular curved smartphone.

Ken Hong, an LG Electronics spokesperson, says: "Something new that we're introducing here at CES 2015 is the second generation of our curved smartphone. This is called the G Flex 2 and as you can see not only is the back curved, but the glass is also curved."

This year's model features what the company describes as a "self-healing" casing.

Hong explains: "Something that's also unique to this phone in the industry is something we call the self-healing back cover and although it looks like it's just a regular, normal metallic cover what it does is very unique and that is it repairs itself. It repairs itself within a matter of seconds in fact."

At the show LG is showing how resistant its phone is to abrasion.

"It's designed to withstand the scratches that would normally see in your pocket. Car keys, coins and so forth. So those generally are not deep scratches," says Hong.

But high-tech isn't limited to just gadgets. Toyota took to the floor for its U.S unveil of the Mirai Fuel Cell vehicle, a car that runs on hydrogen.

Toyota spokesperson Craig Scott says: "So this is a car that runs completely on compressed hydrogen, so there are no engine parts, for example. It's a fuel-cell that combines hydrogen and oxygen to make electricity and that electricity drives the electric motor which runs the wheels. So it operates just like a regular gasoline vehicle but without any combustion, and without any combustion that means no emissions. So it is a completely carbon-free driving experience."

Car makers are becoming an increasingly common fixture at the major international technology shows. Straying away from the boundaries of the traditional auto industry, car makers are keen to be seen as cutting-edge, according to tech analyst Scott Steinberg.

He says: "The reason you seen manufacturers like Toyota and other carmakers focus more and more on events like CES is because they're trying to emphasise technology as a differentiator. At the end of the day there's only so much you can engineer into a specific car from year to year, so they're looking at ways that apps, connected features and video and other elements can be used to help set their vehicles apart."

3D printers were also making a big splash at this year's event. 3D Systems unveiled its latest model, the Cube Pro, which can print in full CMYK-W colour.

Steinberg explains why 3D printing is such big news for 2015: "Last year 3D printing was very much in the concept phase it had a very limited range of applications. Now what you're seeing is 3D printing move to a space where you can create everyday household items, where you can create all sorts of things that you might use around your home as opposed to simply those that might be novelties or for techies alone."

CES is packed with objects created on 3D printers - with plenty of models printing live on the show floor.

From chess sets to jewellery - there seems to be no end to the applications for a 3D printer.

Avi Reichental, the CEO of printer maker 3D Systems says: "Everything that touches your life from your shoes and fashion to your food and creations is all going to be 3D printed."

He adds: "I think that people have been excited about with 3D printing for quite some time. What's exciting about it this year is that it's at a price point and functionality that makes it truly democratised to a point where anybody can have it at home."

3D Systems' printers even created jam... of sorts.

All of these guitars, keyboards and drums were created by a 3D printer and the result is harmonious.

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 6-9 January 2015.

The annual technology event is set to showcase more than 3,500 exhibitors including big tech companies like Sony, Samsung and LG.

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 6 January, 2015

1. Various of LG Electronics 4K televisions

2. Mid of show visitors

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Scott Steinberg, Technology Analyst, TechSavvy.com:

"So the ultra-thin TVs are certainly the latest examples of what you can see out of a company like Sony or LG. They're going to be moving towards higher definition, they're going to be moving towards picks a resolution that's much greater than anything you've seen before and going to be putting more and more of an emphasis on sleek, slim and well-designed products that are specifically designed to catch the eye and not just in terms of what's showing on their screens."

4. Various of Sony Bravia 4K televisions

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Breitkreuze, Sony Spokesperson:

"It's coming out at 4.9 millimeters or .2 inches. A cool thing is that it does come with a wall mount, so that tv can be mounted against a wall and almost floating with a somewhat edgeless design. So when it's mounted to the wall it comes out at only about 4 centimetres."

6. Mid showing Sony's on-screen interface

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Breitkreuze, Sony Spokesperson:

"(It's) got our new Android operating system platform for the user interface, which allows you to do anything you can do on your phone, or imagine doing on your phone, you can now do on the TV itself."

8. Various of show visitors looking at ultra-thin Sony TV

9. Close of man holding LG Electronics G Flex 2 smartphones

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Ken Hong, LG Electronics spokesperson:

"Something new that we're introducing here at CES 2015 is the second generation of our curved smartphone. This is called the G Flex 2 and as you can see not only is the back curved, but the glass is also curved."

11. Various of LG G Flex 2

12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ken Hong, LG Electronics spokesperson

"Something that's also unique to this phone in the industry is something we call the self-healing back cover and although it looks like it's just a regular, normal metallic cover what it does is very unique and that is it repairs itself. It repairs itself within a matter of seconds in fact."

13. Close of G Flex 2 phone being scratched by abrasive

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ken Hong, LG Electronics spokesperson

"It's designed to withstand the scratches that would normally see in your pocket. Car keys, coins and so forth. So those generally are not deep scratches."

15. Close of G Flex 2 phone after it had been scratched by abrasive

16. Various of Toyota's Mirai Fuel Cell vehicle

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Craig Scott, Toyota National Manager for Advanced Technology Vehicles:

"So this is a car that runs completely on compressed hydrogen, so there are no engine parts, for example. It's a fuel-cell that combines hydrogen and oxygen to make electricity and that electricity drives the electric motor which runs the wheels. So it operates just like a regular gasoline vehicle, but without any combustion, and without any combustion that means no emissions. So it is a completely carbon-free driving experience."

18. Various details of Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell vehicle

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Scott Steinberg, technology analyst, TechSavvy.com:

"The reason you seen manufacturers like Toyota and other carmakers focus more and more on events like CES and electronic shows is because they're trying to emphasise technology as a differentiator. At the end of the day there's only so much you can engineer into a specific car from year to year, so they're looking at ways that apps, connected features and video and other elements can be used to help set their vehicles apart."

20. Various of Mirai's chassis and fuel cell

21. Various of Cube Pro 3D printer

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Scott Steinberg, technology analyst, TechSavvy.com:

"Last year 3D printing was very much in the concept phase it had a very limited range of applications. Now what you're seeing is 3D printing move to a space where you can create everyday household items, where you can create all sorts of things that you might use around your home as opposed to simply those that might be novelties or for techies alone."

23. Close of 3D printed chess piece

24. SOUNDBITE (English) Avi Reichental, 3D Systems CEO:

"Everything that touches your life from your shoes and fashion to your food and creations is all going to be 3D printed."

25. Close of 3D printed jewellery

26. Close tilt down of 3D printed glasses

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Avi Reichental, 3D Systems CEO:

"I think that people have been excited about with 3D printing for quite some time. What's exciting about it this year is that it's at a price point and functionality that makes it truly democratised to a point where anybody can have it at home."

28. Close of 3D printer head creating object

29. Close of 3D printed shoes

30. Pull out of 3D printed electric guitar and drum kit

31. Various of musicians playing 3D printed instruments

LEADIN

The 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is well underway, showcasing everything from walking cars to foldable phones.

Highlights also include rollable TVs along with developments in autonomous vehicles and smart home technology.

STORYLINE

This is the OLED TV R from the South Korean electronics giant LG.

The R stands for rollable, and that is exactly what this TV does.

It's one of many technology highlights from the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

When it is not in use it rolls up in a box, and when a user presses the power button, the OLED TV R  rolls back out.

The technology was first shown at CES last year by LG Displays, a daughter company to LG that creates new display technology.

But the OLED TV R is the first time the technology has been put into a consumer-ready display.

A subsidiary company to the electronics giant LG, LG Display, is showcasing a transparent TV screen at the event.

It looks a bit like a standard OLED display, but with the press of a button it becomes transparent.

Transparent OLED displays have been shown before, but this one is the first one that you can't see through when its displaying video.

The technology can be used for commercial products, such as in stores or shopping windows.

But within a decade the technology could become a reality in people's homes.

"The transparency is up to 40 percent," explains Sungeon Park, an LG Display product specialist.

"And you can look right through the display to see the behind contents."

The future of vehicles is also being showcased at the show, with new concepts from Hyundai and Toyota.

Hyundai is unveiling a revolutionary new vehicle concept with wheels mounted on robotic legs.

The 'Elevate' is designed to climb terrain other vehicles can't, and has been specially modified for emergency response.

Meanwhile Toyota is unveiling its latest autonomous research vehicle: the TRI P4.

"It's based on the Lexus LS500h," explains Chief Executive Officer, Toyota Research Institute, Gill Pratt.

"The P4 is smarter, more agile and more responsive than any of its predecessors. It can process sensor inputs faster and react more quickly to the surrounding environment."

It uses two semi-autonomous systems, which Toyota is currently developing, dubbed "Guardian" and "Chauffeur".

Samsung is unveiling its future AI-powered robotics platforms, including Samsung Bot Care which helps consumers manage their daily health routines.

While LG is showing the home of the future. It features washing machines which offer advice and a home brewing kit which makes beer on tap just like a capsule coffee machine.

But while the electronics are demonstrating ways to make our lives easier, the partial government shutdown in the US means not everyone got to experience them.

Organisers say several scheduled government speakers cancelled their travel plans as a result.

These include Ajit Pai, head of the Federal Communications Commission, and at least nine other federal officials.

CES chief Gary Shapiro says it was "a little bit embarrassing as an American".

Meanwhile California-based company Royole are looking extremely proud of their foldable smartphone, the first of its kind to be available to customers.

The dual-sim device, called the FlexPai, has a 7 to 8 inch HD display that can be folded to create two smartphones, one for each sim card.

The device is now available for order from the Royole website for 1,318 US dollars but the company says it will take at least 60 to 90 days for customers to receive it.

CES 2019, the world's largest tech conference, runs Tuesday 8th to Friday 11th January.

Over 180,00 visitors are expected to attend the huge annual consumer electronics show in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas, US - 6 January 2019

1. LG OLED TV R, a new consumer-ready rollable TV, unrolling from box

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tim Alessi, Head of Product marketing LG US

"Inside this box is a 65-inch, 4K HDR OLED display. Hard to believe right? I'll prove it to you. All I have to do is press the power button on the remote control and you can see the mechanism will automatically open the hatch. And out from the box will actually unroll the OLED display."

3. Various LG OLED TV R rolling in and out of box

Las Vegas, US - 7 January 2019

4. Various of transparent OLED display screen, shown by LG Display, a subsidiary company to LG

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sungeon Park, LG Display product specialist

"It's actually a transparent OLED display where the transparency is up to 40 percent. And you can look right through the display to see the behind contents."

6. Hyundai promotional video showing concept of the 'Elevate'

7. SOUNDBITE (English) David Byron, Industrial Design Manager, Sundberg-Ferar

"A vehicle with legs could drive first responders to a location like any traditional vehicle, but then walk or climb over treacherous terrain to directly reach the injured or stranded like you just saw in the video."

8. Close of model walking UPSOUND (English) David Byron, Industrial Design Manager, Sundberg-Ferar:

"Now what you're seeing here is it moving in a reptilian mode, which is the most stable for off road conditions. But the hip joint design allows it to rotate into mammalian if you want to walk faster or more efficiently in a linear direction."

9. Hyundai promotional video showing concept of the 'Elevate'

10. Toyota's new semi-autonomous P4 prototype driving onto stage UPSOUND (English) Gill Pratt, Chief Executive Officer, Toyota Research Institute:

"It's based on the Lexus LS500h, the P4 is smarter, more agile and more responsive than any of its predecessors. It can process sensor inputs faster and react more quickly to the surrounding environment."

11. Mid of Samsung Bot Care robot talking on stage

12. Wide of Yoon Lee, Senior Vice President, Product Innovation at Samsung Electronics America, on stage having his vital signs checked by Samsung Bot Care robot

13. Close of screen showing graphic sequence explaining how LG's Pro Active Customer Care will work

14. Wide zoom in to Vanderwaal on stage taking 'washing' out of the washing machine and putting it in the 'dryer'.

15. UPSOUND: (English) voice of interactive washing machine and David Vanderwaal talking to each other

"Since installation of this washing machine, you've washed thirty loads, I think now is a good time for you to run a tub cleaning cycle. Would you like to run tub clean?"

"Sounds interesting, but I don't know what is tub clean?

"Tub clean is a maintenance routine that is recommended to keep your washer clean as new."

Las Vegas - 6 January 2019

16. Various of LG Beer Brewing machine HomeBrew

Las Vegas, US - 7 January 2019

17. UPSOUND: (English) David Vanderwaal, Senior Vice President Marketing, LG Electronics (holding a pint of beer)

"Our first ever beer maker, now you can make and enjoy your own cold, tasty beer in the comfort of your own home with little more than a simple touch of a button."

Las Vegas, US - 5 January 2018

18. Wide of Las Vegas Strip

19. Close of Las Vegas Statue of Liberty

20. Close of New York New York sign

21. Wide of CES banners

Las Vegas, US - 6 January 2018

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association:

"When the government shuts down because of an impasse it does effect the ability of government leaders to travel, it won't really make, or break the show, we have government leaders coming from round the world. It's a little bit embarrassing, as an American it's not my favourite thing, but this show is so strong, so powerful, there's so much innovation and so many companies and so much interest globally, I feel really good."

Las Vegas, US - 7 January 2019

23. Various of Royole FlexPai foldable smartphone being, founder Bill Liu explaining the various features

24. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bill Liu, founder of Royole

"As you can see, this is based on the flexible display. And it looks like a traditional smartphone. But the difference is you can unfold it to a pad."

25. Various of Royole FlexPai foldable smartphone being, founder Bill Liu explaining the various features

LEAD IN

Autonomous cars, voice controlled devices and promises of a fully connected world have dominated the major unveilings at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

There are also robot room mates and high spec TVs that are thinner than ever before.

STORY-LINE

Toyota's claiming this concept car puts the focus on the user.

According to the company the Concept-i has been created around the philosophy of 'kinetic warmth' - the theory that mobility technology should be fun as well as warm and welcoming.

Key to this type of technology is advanced artificial intelligence that can anticipate people's needs. The idea is that the AI system - nicknamed 'Yui' - allows the vehicle to build a more human relationship with the driver.

Toyota claim their design means the driver can also concentrate on the road more.

Concept-i, therefore, does not have a central console but instead has coloured lights in the footwells to tell you when the vehicle is being driven manually or automatically. Projectors in the rear deck are designed to alert the driver to blind spots.

BMW is promising fully autonomous driving by 2021.

Its concept car of the future is on show at CES, promising full connectivity and voice control.

Making its debut for BMW in Vegas is the BMW HoloActive Touch system - the German automaker's vision of the car interior of the future.

The BMW HoloActive Touch system is a driver vehicle interface that is controlled by a flick of the finger.

The interface acts like a virtual touch screen with a free-floating display that is operated using finger gestures.

The system is part of the BMW i Inside Future study which aims to give drivers a glimpse into the world of connected and autonomous cars of the future.

Klaus Froehlich, BMW AG, Development is promising BMW will deliver fully autonomous driving by 2021.

Televisions are another new battleground for manufacturers with CES presentations promising premium picture quality.

Samsung has released its new flagship 'Q' LED TV. The 'Q' stands for Quantum dot, a technology Samsung says gives the best picture quality the company has ever put into a television.

The Q9 and Q8 televisions shown at CES all have 4K resolution - and are now the top of the range Samsung televisions on the market.

"With picture, this is the the best picture quality that Samsung has ever put into a television," says Brandt Varner, Samsung Senior Director of Product Marketing.

"We are going to give it a much wider contrast. Much deeper blacks. Much brighter brights with optimal peak brightness."

The Q9 television shown at CES is flat, the Q8 is curved.

Sony has unveiled a revolutionary television, the company's flagship of 2017. The sound from the Bravia 4K OLED TV comes straight from the screen.

OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode.

"This revolutionary acoustic surface technology actually vibrates the display to produce the awe inspiring sound. It is enabled by the thin, simple structure of the OLED display. This means there are no separate speakers on the side, or the bottom of the TV and the result is an ingenious, speakerless and also standless design," says Sony Presdient and CEO, Kazuo Hirai.

LG's new premium television also has an OLED screen.

However, all the usual electronics, such as speakers and graphics cards have been stripped away from the screen and are stored in a long box that sits under the TV.

This makes the screen only 2.85 millimetres thick.

The television is mounted on the wall with the help of a metal plate that attaches the TV with the help of magnets.

The South Korean company also used CES to unveil its latest robot helpers to keep your home or office in order.

The LG Hub Robot learns a person's lifestyle to better serve them by connecting to the internet and learning voice commands.

The Hub Robot and Mini version can take charge of your connected washing machine, oven, vacuum and other devices - it can even recommend music.

Nicole Scott, editor of Mobilegeeks technology news website says: "We've been waiting for the ability to interact with our homes since the 1950s, I mean ever since I was a kid I wanted to talk to my house and wish for things. There seems to be two kinds, an elegant one, or the room mate variety as I like to call it, something a little cuter, something that a little more personal."

A larger version, known as Airport Guide Robot, will go into service at South Korea's Incheon airport later this year.

LG has also teamed up with Amazon to use integrated AI (artificial intelligence) voice technologies in other appliances, like its fridges, but not its robot assistants.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 5-8 January 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. More than 3,800 exhibitors are expected to show their products to over 150,000 visitors.

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 4 January 2017

1. Wide of the unveiling of Toyota's Concept-i by 'Yui' - artificial intelligence system

2. Various of Toyota's Concept-i

3. SOUNDBITE: Tim Stevens, Editor and Chief, Roadshow

"Definitely autonomy is a big story as it always is, but we're moving beyond demonstrations of cars just moving themselves, because that's kind of old hat at this point. So now we're seeing what's going to happen inside the car. We're seeing more demonstrations from BMW and Toyota rethinking what the interior's going to look like because now if you're not driving your car you can ultimately have more fun in your car, you can be more productive."

4. Various of Toyota's Concept-i

5. Unveiling of BMW's concept car then stage presentation by Klaus Froehlich, BMW AG, Development

(UPSOUND) English: "This is a glimpse into the mid future. It is not for tomorrow, but beyond 2020 this will happen."

6. Various of BMW i Inside Future concept car

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Holger Hampf, Head of User Experience Design, BMW Group:

"We still see that the people inside the car - specifically the one who could also potentially steer it - is in control. So, with this model you still see a steering wheel, you still see your driver's environment, however the driver can decide at which point of time he is giving the control to the car."

8. Various of BMW i Inside Future concept car

Las Vegas, US - 3 January 2017

9. Hyun Suk Kim, President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics, introducing the new QLED Q8 (left) and Q9 (right)

10. Various of QLED TVs

11. SOUNDBITE: (English), Brandt Varner, Samsung Senior Director of Product Marketing:

"With picture, this is the the best picture quality that Samsung has ever put into a television. We are going to give it a much wider contrast. Much deeper blacks. Much brighter brights with optimal peak brightness, achieving up to 2000 nits (brightness measurement). So between that optimal brightness, and the deeper blacks, that's what's going to give you the better contrast. The better picture performance across the televisions."

12. Mid of Q9 screen

Las Vegas, US - 4 January 2017

13. Wide of Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai introducing the new Bravia television on stage at CES

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Kazuo Hirai, President and CEO, Sony:

"This is a world first. Sound that comes directly from the screen. This revolutionary acoustic surface technology actually vibrates the display to produce the awe inspiring sound. It is enabled by the thin, simple structure of the OLED display. This means there are no separate speakers on the side, or the bottom of the TV and the result is an ingenious, speakerless and also standless design."

15. Zoom in on Sony Bravia OLED TV

Las Vegas, US - 3 January 2017

16. Various of LG W7 4K OLED Television, launched at CES in Las Vegas

17. Tim Alessi, LG director of new product development, in front of the LG W7

18. Alessi holding finger under screen, detaching it from the wall

19. Pull out from edge of TV

20. Various of AV box

21. SOUNDBITE: (English), Tim Alessi, LG director of new product development:

"The panel itself is only 2.85 millimetres thick. So that is only about a tenth of an inch. There is a small mounting plate that mounts to the wall. But even that only adds another millimetre to it. So less than two tenths of an inch in thickness."

Las Vegas, US - 4 January 2017

22. Various of LG Hub Robots, including Mini version

23. SOUNDBITE: (English), Nicole Scott, editor of Mobilegeeks technology news website:

"We've been waiting for the ability to interact with our homes since the 1950s, I mean ever since I was a kid I wanted to talk to my house and wish for things. There seems to be two kinds, an elegant one, or the room mate variety as I like to call it, something a little cuter, something that a little more personal. I mean Alexa definitely has a little bit of a sassy personality, but what LG has done with this home robot is they've made it cute with the eyes, something a little more child friendly as well because they can tell you stories on top of all the really great IOT and home interaction that Alexa brings to you."

24. Tilt up of larger robot that will soon be used to help passengers at Seoul's Incheon airport

25. Pan from robot mower to other robots, including vacuum cleaner

26. Various of robots

LEAD IN

Autonomous cars, voice controlled devices and promises of a fully connected world have dominated the major unveilings at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

There are also robot room mates and high spec TVs that are thinner than ever before.

STORY-LINE

Toyota's claiming this concept car puts the focus on the user.

According to the company the Concept-i has been created around the philosophy of 'kinetic warmth' - the theory that mobility technology should be fun as well as warm and welcoming.

Key to this type of technology is advanced artificial intelligence that can anticipate people's needs. The idea is that the AI system - nicknamed 'Yui' - allows the vehicle to build a more human relationship with the driver.

Toyota claim their design means the driver can also concentrate on the road more.

Concept-i, therefore, does not have a central console but instead has coloured lights in the footwells to tell you when the vehicle is being driven manually or automatically. Projectors in the rear deck are designed to alert the driver to blind spots.

BMW is promising fully autonomous driving by 2021.

Its concept car of the future is on show at CES, promising full connectivity and voice control.

Making its debut for BMW in Vegas is the BMW HoloActive Touch system - the German automaker's vision of the car interior of the future.

The BMW HoloActive Touch system is a driver vehicle interface that is controlled by a flick of the finger.

The interface acts like a virtual touch screen with a free-floating display that is operated using finger gestures.

The system is part of the BMW i Inside Future study which aims to give drivers a glimpse into the world of connected and autonomous cars of the future.

Klaus Froehlich, BMW AG, Development is promising BMW will deliver fully autonomous driving by 2021.

Televisions are another new battleground for manufacturers with CES presentations promising premium picture quality.

Samsung has released its new flagship 'Q' LED TV. The 'Q' stands for Quantum dot, a technology Samsung says gives the best picture quality the company has ever put into a television.

The Q9 and Q8 televisions shown at CES all have 4K resolution - and are now the top of the range Samsung televisions on the market.

"With picture, this is the the best picture quality that Samsung has ever put into a television," says Brandt Varner, Samsung Senior Director of Product Marketing.

"We are going to give it a much wider contrast. Much deeper blacks. Much brighter brights with optimal peak brightness."

The Q9 television shown at CES is flat, the Q8 is curved.

Sony has unveiled a revolutionary television, the company's flagship of 2017. The sound from the Bravia 4K OLED TV comes straight from the screen.

OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode.

"This revolutionary acoustic surface technology actually vibrates the display to produce the awe inspiring sound. It is enabled by the thin, simple structure of the OLED display. This means there are no separate speakers on the side, or the bottom of the TV and the result is an ingenious, speakerless and also standless design," says Sony Presdient and CEO, Kazuo Hirai.

LG's new premium television also has an OLED screen.

However, all the usual electronics, such as speakers and graphics cards have been stripped away from the screen and are stored in a long box that sits under the TV.

This makes the screen only 2.85 millimetres thick.

The television is mounted on the wall with the help of a metal plate that attaches the TV with the help of magnets.

The South Korean company also used CES to unveil its latest robot helpers to keep your home or office in order.

The LG Hub Robot learns a person's lifestyle to better serve them by connecting to the internet and learning voice commands.

The Hub Robot and Mini version can take charge of your connected washing machine, oven, vacuum and other devices - it can even recommend music.

Nicole Scott, editor of Mobilegeeks technology news website says: "We've been waiting for the ability to interact with our homes since the 1950s, I mean ever since I was a kid I wanted to talk to my house and wish for things. There seems to be two kinds, an elegant one, or the room mate variety as I like to call it, something a little cuter, something that a little more personal."

A larger version, known as Airport Guide Robot, will go into service at South Korea's Incheon airport later this year.

LG has also teamed up with Amazon to use integrated AI (artificial intelligence) voice technologies in other appliances, like its fridges, but not its robot assistants.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 5-8 January 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. More than 3,800 exhibitors are expected to show their products to over 150,000 visitors.

Las Vegas, US - 4 January 2017

1. Wide of the unveiling of Toyota's Concept-i by 'Yui' - artificial intelligence system

2. Various of Toyota's Concept-i

3. SOUNDBITE: Tim Stevens, Editor and Chief, Roadshow

"Definitely autonomy is a big story as it always is, but we're moving beyond demonstrations of cars just moving themselves, because that's kind of old hat at this point. So now we're seeing what's going to happen inside the car. We're seeing more demonstrations from BMW and Toyota rethinking what the interior's going to look like because now if you're not driving your car you can ultimately have more fun in your car, you can be more productive."

4. Various of Toyota's Concept-i

5. Unveiling of BMW's concept car then stage presentation by Klaus Froehlich, BMW AG, Development

(UPSOUND) English: "This is a glimpse into the mid future. It is not for tomorrow, but beyond 2020 this will happen."

6. Various of BMW i Inside Future concept car

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Holger Hampf, Head of User Experience Design, BMW Group:

"We still see that the people inside the car - specifically the one who could also potentially steer it - is in control. So, with this model you still see a steering wheel, you still see your driver's environment, however the driver can decide at which point of time he is giving the control to the car."

8. Various of BMW i Inside Future concept car

Las Vegas, US - 3 January 2017

9. Hyun Suk Kim, President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics, introducing the new QLED Q8 (left) and Q9 (right)

10. Various of QLED TVs

11. SOUNDBITE: (English), Brandt Varner, Samsung Senior Director of Product Marketing:

"With picture, this is the the best picture quality that Samsung has ever put into a television. We are going to give it a much wider contrast. Much deeper blacks. Much brighter brights with optimal peak brightness, achieving up to 2000 nits (brightness measurement). So between that optimal brightness, and the deeper blacks, that's what's going to give you the better contrast. The better picture performance across the televisions."

12. Mid of Q9 screen

Las Vegas, US - 4 January 2017

13. Wide of Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai introducing the new Bravia television on stage at CES

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Kazuo Hirai, President and CEO, Sony:

"This is a world first. Sound that comes directly from the screen. This revolutionary acoustic surface technology actually vibrates the display to produce the awe inspiring sound. It is enabled by the thin, simple structure of the OLED display. This means there are no separate speakers on the side, or the bottom of the TV and the result is an ingenious, speakerless and also standless design."

15. Zoom in on Sony Bravia OLED TV

Las Vegas, US - 3 January 2017

16. Various of LG W7 4K OLED Television, launched at CES in Las Vegas

17. Tim Alessi, LG director of new product development, in front of the LG W7

18. Alessi holding finger under screen, detaching it from the wall

19. Pull out from edge of TV

20. Various of AV box

21. SOUNDBITE: (English), Tim Alessi, LG director of new product development:

"The panel itself is only 2.85 millimetres thick. So that is only about a tenth of an inch. There is a small mounting plate that mounts to the wall. But even that only adds another millimetre to it. So less than two tenths of an inch in thickness."

Las Vegas, US - 4 January 2017

22. Various of LG Hub Robots, including Mini version

23. SOUNDBITE: (English), Nicole Scott, editor of Mobilegeeks technology news website:

"We've been waiting for the ability to interact with our homes since the 1950s, I mean ever since I was a kid I wanted to talk to my house and wish for things. There seems to be two kinds, an elegant one, or the room mate variety as I like to call it, something a little cuter, something that a little more personal. I mean Alexa definitely has a little bit of a sassy personality, but what LG has done with this home robot is they've made it cute with the eyes, something a little more child friendly as well because they can tell you stories on top of all the really great IOT and home interaction that Alexa brings to you."

24. Tilt up of larger robot that will soon be used to help passengers at Seoul's Incheon airport

25. Pan from robot mower to other robots, including vacuum cleaner

26. Various of robots

Advances in television technology are taking centre stage at this year's International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, with manufacturers showcasing curved TVs and 4K screens.

Wearable technology is also all the rage at this year's gadget fest known as International CES in Las Vegas.

Dozens of different smart watches are being showcased, some to make phone calls, while others can monitor your health.

Fashionable accessories are also all the rage, like a handbag which doubles as a portable speaker.

There are all kinds of virtual and augmented reality goggles and glasses, including a combination headphone-visor prototype featuring new display technology where the image is projected directly into your eyes.

"It's called a virtual retina display," said Avegant CEO Edward Tang.

"How that's different from other display technologies is that there is no screen at all. The image is projected directly onto your retina."

Curved televisions are everywhere at the show, many featuring new 4k technology, packing four times the amount of pixels into HD tvs.

"You are putting four times the amount of pixels in the space that you currently see," said VP of Marketing for RCA, Jonathan Zupnik.

"So, you can go larger in a smaller space."

And for the first time in CES history, virtually every major auto manufacturer is at the show to demonstrate new connected car concepts, which take navigation systems and vehicle diagnostics to the next level.

"At some point in the future, you're going to see a convergence of automated driving, connected vehicles, new power trends like the fuel cell, all coming together and creating a new mobility that I think people are really going to enjoy for the future," said Toyota, Corporate Manager, Jim Pisz.

AP TELEVISION

1. Wide of attendees walking under International CES arch

2. Mid of giant LG display greeting arriving attendees

3. Close of Undead Power earbuds

4. Close of GoPro helmet cam

5. Close of ZeBracelet & ZeWatch

6. Close of Samsung smartwatch

7. Mid low view of two runners wear Bluetooth Sports Gear Smartwatch

8. Close of Bluetooth smart watch

9. Mid low view of two models hold AR For Her speaker bags

10. Close of speaker bags

11. Close of man wearing Oculus Rift virtual reality headset

12. Close of man wearing and adjusting Vuzix smart glasses

13. Close of Edward Tang, CEO, Avegant Glyph putting on virtual retinal display

14. Close of adjustable retinal display

15. Close of turning of settings on retinal display

16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Edward Tang, CEO, Avegant:

"It's called a virtual retina display. How that's different from other display technologies is that there is no screen at all. The image is projected directly onto your retina."

17. People looking at LG curved televisions

18. Model standing next to LG flexible television

19. Mid of Changhong curved televisions

20. Panasonics curved "ribbon" television display

21. Sharp's 4K televisions

22. Toshiba's Ultra HD 4K televisions

23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jonathan Zupnik, VP of Marketing, RCA:

"You are putting four times the amount of pixels in the space that you currently see. So, in a sense, high definition today is two (m) million. These sets produce eight (m) million, giving you a sharper picture and also allows you to sit closer to your TV and still see a wonderful picture. So, you can go larger in a smaller space."

24. Audi Quattro connected car

25. Volvo's connected car at Ericsson booth

26. Mustang at Ford Motors booth

27. Corvette at Chevrolet booth

28. Mercedes Benz display

29. Qualcomm displays 4G-embedded car

30. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jim Pisz, Corporate Manager, Toyota:

"At some point in the future, you're going to see a convergence of automated driving, of connected vehicles, of new power trends like the fuel cell, all coming together and forming a new mobility that I think people are really going to enjoy for the future."

31. Toyota i-Road single passenger electric car driving in small circle

32. Another futuristic Toyota concept car

LEADIN

Kia is to deliver a new electric vehicle with a 238 mile range.

Dubbed the Niro EV, the new electric sport utility vehicle showcased at CES also has a fast charging system.

STORYLINE

Kia says the electric Niro EV is expected to enter production later this year.

Kia's vice chairman, Woong-chul Yang, says the concept vehicle will have the ability to fast charge an additional 115 miles within 30 minutes of charging.

The Niro EV is expected to be the first of five all-electric cars to hit the market by 2025.

With safety in mind, the vehicle also has an Active Pedestrian Warning System to alert the driver of nearby pedestrians and cyclists.

Smartphones and other small devices that used to dominate the annual CES gadget show have been overshadowed in recent years by bigger mobile devices: namely, automobiles.

Other major automakers like Toyota, Hyundai and Ford have a noticeable presence at this week's tech showcase in Las Vegas, though most save more practical announcements about new cars, trucks and SUVs for the upcoming Detroit auto show.

CES has been a chance for carmakers and suppliers of automotive parts and software to display their wilder and far-out ideas.

Las Vegas - 8 January 2018

1. KIA promotional video played at presentation

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Woong-chul Yang, Vice Chairman and Head of Kia R&D:

"Ladies and gentlemen unveiled for the first time, I'm proud to present to you the Niro EV concept."

3. KIA promotional video showing Niro EV concept

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Woong-chul Yang, Vice Chairman and Head of Kia R&D:

"While the car you see here is a concept, Kia will release a new Niro electric vehicle the second half of this year. It will be able to travel 238 miles on a single charge, more than double the range of the current Soul EV. In addition, with Niro EV's fast charging system, you can add more than 115 miles of range with just 30 minutes of charging."

5. KIA promotional video showing Niro EV concept

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Woong-chul Yang, Vice Chairman and Head of Kia R&D:

"We will continue to expand our range of eco-friendly vehicles. By 2025 we will offer a total of 16 advanced powertrain vehicles with five new hybrids and plug-in hybrids, five new battery EVs and a new Fuel-cell electric vehicle."

7. KIA promotional video showing Niro EV concept

LEADIN

Kia is to deliver a new electric vehicle with a 238 mile range.

Dubbed the Niro EV, the new electric sport utility vehicle showcased at CES also has a fast charging system.

STORYLINE

Kia says the electric Niro EV is expected to enter production later this year.

Kia's vice chairman, Woong-chul Yang, says the concept vehicle will have the ability to fast charge an additional 115 miles within 30 minutes of charging.

The Niro EV is expected to be the first of five all-electric cars to hit the market by 2025.

With safety in mind, the vehicle also has an Active Pedestrian Warning System to alert the driver of nearby pedestrians and cyclists.

Smartphones and other small devices that used to dominate the annual CES gadget show have been overshadowed in recent years by bigger mobile devices: namely, automobiles.

Other major automakers like Toyota, Hyundai and Ford have a noticeable presence at this week's tech showcase in Las Vegas, though most save more practical announcements about new cars, trucks and SUVs for the upcoming Detroit auto show.

CES has been a chance for carmakers and suppliers of automotive parts and software to display their wilder and far-out ideas.

Las Vegas - 8 January 2018

1. KIA promotional video played at presentation

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Woong-chul Yang, Vice Chairman and Head of Kia R&D:

"Ladies and gentlemen unveiled for the first time, I'm proud to present to you the Niro EV concept."

3. KIA promotional video showing Niro EV concept

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Woong-chul Yang, Vice Chairman and Head of Kia R&D:

"While the car you see here is a concept, Kia will release a new Niro electric vehicle the second half of this year. It will be able to travel 238 miles on a single charge, more than double the range of the current Soul EV. In addition, with Niro EV's fast charging system, you can add more than 115 miles of range with just 30 minutes of charging."

5. KIA promotional video showing Niro EV concept

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Woong-chul Yang, Vice Chairman and Head of Kia R&D:

"We will continue to expand our range of eco-friendly vehicles. By 2025 we will offer a total of 16 advanced powertrain vehicles with five new hybrids and plug-in hybrids, five new battery EVs and a new Fuel-cell electric vehicle."

7. KIA promotional video showing Niro EV concept

LEAD IN:

200mph electric supercars and cars that park themselves with just a swish of their owner's wrist are just some of the latest hi-tech motors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The auto industry is increasingly using the technology show to demonstrate its latest gadgets and advances.

STORY-LINE:

This futuristic looking electric supercar can reach speeds of up to 200mph according to its maker Faraday.

The single-seater Faraday FFZero1 features all of the latest hi-tech gadgetry expected in a car making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief of Faraday Future says: "This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

For example, a smartphone can be embedded in the steering wheel to give the driver real-time data and can even be used to tune and alter the way the car is set-up.

The FFZero1 is the brainchild of California-based car maker Faraday Future and is strictly a concept for now... and even if it ever does go into production then you're unlikely to ever see one on the road.

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road," says Beermann.

The modular chassis design can be converted to make it longer or shorter - so various configurations can enable more battery packs to be added for greater range.

Although the FFZero1 might be a concept, Faraday is planning to build its first production cars within two years and is already being tipped as a rival for local electric car makers Tesla.

If 200mph supercars are a bit too much for your needs, then Chevrolet's new Bolt might make a more practical electric alternative.

The 2017 production model was also unveiled at CES - which is fast becoming an important platform for car makers to reinforce their technological credentials.

The Bolt is designed as an affordable long-range electric vehicle and the successor to Chevrolet's Volt. Chevrolet claims the Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles.

Josh Tavel, the Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, says: "With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

The Bolt was first introduced as a concept a year ago and production could begin by the end of 2016.

The car could come with an app that will make car sharing easier and also include advanced GPS route mapping which can predict precise range based on driving habits, weather conditions and the number of hills on the planned route.

But is range anxiety and the worry about being an early adopter of a relatively new technology still putting off motorists from going electric in 2016.

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience," says Tavel.

Outside the show hall BMW is demonstrating its self-parking cars.

Ok, so cars parking themselves is nothing new - but this BMW i3 has been fitted with gesture control. Its driver swipes his wrist and the smart watch he is wearing communicates with the car... the car rolls slowly into life and parks itself.

Philipp Reinisch from the BMW Group says: "With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

Volkswagen's old Microbus is getting a major update and could be in a garage near you in around three years.

The company unveiled a futuristic battery-powered concept of the bus called the BUDD-e. VW expects it to be able to go 373 miles (600 kilometres) on a single charge, far longer than electric vehicles today, due to a more efficient battery technology.

Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management at Volkswagen says: "It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

The Budd-e has internet connections to smart home devices and can be charged to 80 percent of its battery capacity in about 15 minutes, VW claims.

It also has gesture recognition technology to control the infotainment screen, and the doors can be controlled by voice commands.

VW didn't say in its releases if the new Microbus will actually go into production, but said that the BUDD-e "demonstrates what electric mobility could be like by the year 2019."

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient," says Diess.

VW says it's likely that the Budd-e will become a production model.

While some auto makers like General Motors will be looking to boost current car sales, companies like Rinspeed will be looking years - perhaps decades - into the future.

The Swiss car makers unveiled a self-driving concept car called 'Etos'.

A total of eight HD exterior cameras visually monitor the vehicle's surroundings, establishing 180-degree panoramic views, virtual exterior mirrors and no blind spots.

Inside, there's a retracting steering wheel which creates added space when in auto-pilot mode, allowing drivers to explore two curved 21.5-inch Ultra HD widescreen monitors or simply read a book.

Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed says: "In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

The Etos comes complete with an on-board DJI drone to snap road selfies during journeys... or even more unusual missions.

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them," says Rinderknecht.

It may seem like science fiction for some, but Rinspeed's Etos concept vehicle may inspire cars of the future.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 6-9 January in Las Vegas and over 3,600 exhibitors are showing off their latest consumer tech products and services.

LEAD IN:

200mph electric supercars and cars that park themselves with just a swish of their owner's wrist are just some of the latest hi-tech motors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The auto industry is increasingly using the technology show to demonstrate its latest gadgets and advances.

STORY-LINE:

This futuristic looking electric supercar can reach speeds of up to 200mph according to its maker Faraday.

The single-seater Faraday FFZero1 features all of the latest hi-tech gadgetry expected in a car making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief of Faraday Future says: "This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

For example, a smartphone can be embedded in the steering wheel to give the driver real-time data and can even be used to tune and alter the way the car is set-up.

The FFZero1 is the brainchild of California-based car maker Faraday Future and is strictly a concept for now... and even if it ever does go into production then you're unlikely to ever see one on the road.

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road," says Beermann.

The modular chassis design can be converted to make it longer or shorter - so various configurations can enable more battery packs to be added for greater range.

Although the FFZero1 might be a concept, Faraday is planning to build its first production cars within two years and is already being tipped as a rival for local electric car makers Tesla.

If 200mph supercars are a bit too much for your needs, then Chevrolet's new Bolt might make a more practical electric alternative.

The 2017 production model was also unveiled at CES - which is fast becoming an important platform for car makers to reinforce their technological credentials.

The Bolt is designed as an affordable long-range electric vehicle and the successor to Chevrolet's Volt. Chevrolet claims the Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles.

Josh Tavel, the Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, says: "With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

The Bolt was first introduced as a concept a year ago and production could begin by the end of 2016.

The car could come with an app that will make car sharing easier and also include advanced GPS route mapping which can predict precise range based on driving habits, weather conditions and the number of hills on the planned route.

But is range anxiety and the worry about being an early adopter of a relatively new technology still putting off motorists from going electric in 2016.

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience," says Tavel.

Outside the show hall BMW is demonstrating its self-parking cars.

Ok, so cars parking themselves is nothing new - but this BMW i3 has been fitted with gesture control. Its driver swipes his wrist and the smart watch he is wearing communicates with the car... the car rolls slowly into life and parks itself.

Philipp Reinisch from the BMW Group says: "With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

Volkswagen's old Microbus is getting a major update and could be in a garage near you in around three years.

The company unveiled a futuristic battery-powered concept of the bus called the BUDD-e. VW expects it to be able to go 373 miles (600 kilometres) on a single charge, far longer than electric vehicles today, due to a more efficient battery technology.

Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management at Volkswagen says: "It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

The Budd-e has internet connections to smart home devices and can be charged to 80 percent of its battery capacity in about 15 minutes, VW claims.

It also has gesture recognition technology to control the infotainment screen, and the doors can be controlled by voice commands.

VW didn't say in its releases if the new Microbus will actually go into production, but said that the BUDD-e "demonstrates what electric mobility could be like by the year 2019."

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient," says Diess.

VW says it's likely that the Budd-e will become a production model.

While some auto makers like General Motors will be looking to boost current car sales, companies like Rinspeed will be looking years - perhaps decades - into the future.

The Swiss car makers unveiled a self-driving concept car called 'Etos'.

A total of eight HD exterior cameras visually monitor the vehicle's surroundings, establishing 180-degree panoramic views, virtual exterior mirrors and no blind spots.

Inside, there's a retracting steering wheel which creates added space when in auto-pilot mode, allowing drivers to explore two curved 21.5-inch Ultra HD widescreen monitors or simply read a book.

Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed says: "In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

The Etos comes complete with an on-board DJI drone to snap road selfies during journeys... or even more unusual missions.

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them," says Rinderknecht.

It may seem like science fiction for some, but Rinspeed's Etos concept vehicle may inspire cars of the future.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 6-9 January in Las Vegas and over 3,600 exhibitors are showing off their latest consumer tech products and services.

AP TELEVISION

Las Vegas, US - 4 January 2015

1. Mid of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car

Las Vegas, US - 6 January 2015

2. Various of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car on display at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES)

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief, Faraday Future:

"This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

4. Various of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car on display

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief, Faraday Future:

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road."

6. Mid of Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, driving new Chevrolet Bolt EV

7. Wide of new Chevrolet Bolt EV coming to a stop

8. Various of new Chevrolet Bolt EV

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV:

"With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

10. Various of new Chevrolet Bolt EV

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV:

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience."

12. Mid of BMW employee preparing to park car using gesture control technology

13. Close of BMW employee's hands demonstrating gesture-controlled parking technology with smart watch

14. Various of BMW i3 self-parking

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Philipp Reinisch, BMW Group:

"With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

16. Tilt up as BMW i3 drives away

17. Pull out of sign reading (English): "Think New." at Volkswagen CES booth

18. Various of Volkswagen BUDD-e concept bus on display

19. Setup shot of Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen, talking to media

20. Cutaway of video camera screen

21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen:

"It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

22. Various of Volkswagen employee demonstrating BUDD-e gesture control technology

23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen:

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient."

24. Wide high shot of CES show floor

25. High shot of CES attendees on show floor

25. Various of Toyota FCV Plus on display

26. Various of Rinspeed 'Etos' concept car on display

27. Various of Rinspeed employee demonstrating retractable steering wheel for autonomous driving

28. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed:

"In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

29. Various of drone sat on Rinspeed 'Etos' rear

30. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed:

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them."

31. Tilt down to Rinspeed 'Etos' concept car on display

LEAD-IN:

200mph electric supercars and cars that park themselves with just a swish of their owner's wrist are just some of the latest hi-tech motors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The auto industry is increasingly using the technology show to demonstrate its latest gadgets and advances.

STORY-LINE:

This futuristic looking electric supercar can reach speeds of up to 200mph according to its maker Faraday.

The single-seater Faraday FFZero1 features all of the latest hi-tech gadgetry expected in a car making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief of Faraday Future says: "This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

For example, a smartphone can be embedded in the steering wheel to give the driver real-time data and can even be used to tune and alter the way the car is set-up.

The FFZero1 is the brainchild of California-based car maker Faraday Future and is strictly a concept for now... and even if it ever does go into production then you're unlikely to ever see one on the road.

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road," says Beermann.

The modular chassis design can be converted to make it longer or shorter - so various configurations can enable more battery packs to be added for greater range.

Although the FFZero1 might be a concept, Faraday is planning to build its first production cars within two years and is already being tipped as a rival for local electric car makers Tesla.

If 200mph supercars are a bit too much for your needs, then Chevrolet's new Bolt might make a more practical electric alternative.

The 2017 production model was also unveiled at CES - which is fast becoming an important platform for car makers to reinforce their technological credentials.

The Bolt is designed as an affordable long-range electric vehicle and the successor to Chevrolet's Volt. Chevrolet claims the Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles.

Josh Tavel, the Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, says: "With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

The Bolt was first introduced as a concept a year ago and production could begin by the end of 2016.

The car could come with an app that will make car sharing easier and also include advanced GPS route mapping which can predict precise range based on driving habits, weather conditions and the number of hills on the planned route.

But is range anxiety and the worry about being an early adopter of a relatively new technology still putting off motorists from going electric in 2016.

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience," says Tavel.

Outside the show hall BMW is demonstrating its self-parking cars.

Ok, so cars parking themselves is nothing new - but this BMW i3 has been fitted with gesture control. Its driver swipes his wrist and the smart watch he is wearing communicates with the car... the car rolls slowly into life and parks itself.

Philipp Reinisch from the BMW Group says: "With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

Volkswagen's old Microbus is getting a major update and could be in a garage near you in around three years.

The company unveiled a futuristic battery-powered concept of the bus called the BUDD-e. VW expects it to be able to go 373 miles (600 kilometres) on a single charge, far longer than electric vehicles today, due to a more efficient battery technology.

Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management at Volkswagen says: "It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

The Budd-e has internet connections to smart home devices and can be charged to 80 percent of its battery capacity in about 15 minutes, VW claims.

It also has gesture recognition technology to control the infotainment screen, and the doors can be controlled by voice commands.

VW didn't say in its releases if the new Microbus will actually go into production, but said that the BUDD-e "demonstrates what electric mobility could be like by the year 2019."

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient," says Diess.

VW says it's likely that the Budd-e will become a production model.

While some auto makers like General Motors will be looking to boost current car sales, companies like Rinspeed will be looking years - perhaps decades - into the future.

The Swiss car makers unveiled a self-driving concept car called 'Etos'.

A total of eight HD exterior cameras visually monitor the vehicle's surroundings, establishing 180-degree panoramic views, virtual exterior mirrors and no blind spots.

Inside, there's a retracting steering wheel which creates added space when in auto-pilot mode, allowing drivers to explore two curved 21.5-inch Ultra HD widescreen monitors or simply read a book.

Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed says: "In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

The Etos comes complete with an on-board DJI drone to snap road selfies during journeys... or even more unusual missions.

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them," says Rinderknecht.

It may seem like science fiction for some, but Rinspeed's Etos concept vehicle may inspire cars of the future.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 6-9 January in Las Vegas and over 3,600 exhibitors are showing off their latest consumer tech products and services.

LEAD-IN:

200mph electric supercars and cars that park themselves with just a swish of their owner's wrist are just some of the latest hi-tech motors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The auto industry is increasingly using the technology show to demonstrate its latest gadgets and advances.

STORY-LINE:

This futuristic looking electric supercar can reach speeds of up to 200mph according to its maker Faraday.

The single-seater Faraday FFZero1 features all of the latest hi-tech gadgetry expected in a car making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief of Faraday Future says: "This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

For example, a smartphone can be embedded in the steering wheel to give the driver real-time data and can even be used to tune and alter the way the car is set-up.

The FFZero1 is the brainchild of California-based car maker Faraday Future and is strictly a concept for now... and even if it ever does go into production then you're unlikely to ever see one on the road.

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road," says Beermann.

The modular chassis design can be converted to make it longer or shorter - so various configurations can enable more battery packs to be added for greater range.

Although the FFZero1 might be a concept, Faraday is planning to build its first production cars within two years and is already being tipped as a rival for local electric car makers Tesla.

If 200mph supercars are a bit too much for your needs, then Chevrolet's new Bolt might make a more practical electric alternative.

The 2017 production model was also unveiled at CES - which is fast becoming an important platform for car makers to reinforce their technological credentials.

The Bolt is designed as an affordable long-range electric vehicle and the successor to Chevrolet's Volt. Chevrolet claims the Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles.

Josh Tavel, the Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, says: "With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

The Bolt was first introduced as a concept a year ago and production could begin by the end of 2016.

The car could come with an app that will make car sharing easier and also include advanced GPS route mapping which can predict precise range based on driving habits, weather conditions and the number of hills on the planned route.

But is range anxiety and the worry about being an early adopter of a relatively new technology still putting off motorists from going electric in 2016.

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience," says Tavel.

Outside the show hall BMW is demonstrating its self-parking cars.

Ok, so cars parking themselves is nothing new - but this BMW i3 has been fitted with gesture control. Its driver swipes his wrist and the smart watch he is wearing communicates with the car... the car rolls slowly into life and parks itself.

Philipp Reinisch from the BMW Group says: "With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

Volkswagen's old Microbus is getting a major update and could be in a garage near you in around three years.

The company unveiled a futuristic battery-powered concept of the bus called the BUDD-e. VW expects it to be able to go 373 miles (600 kilometres) on a single charge, far longer than electric vehicles today, due to a more efficient battery technology.

Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management at Volkswagen says: "It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

The Budd-e has internet connections to smart home devices and can be charged to 80 percent of its battery capacity in about 15 minutes, VW claims.

It also has gesture recognition technology to control the infotainment screen, and the doors can be controlled by voice commands.

VW didn't say in its releases if the new Microbus will actually go into production, but said that the BUDD-e "demonstrates what electric mobility could be like by the year 2019."

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient," says Diess.

VW says it's likely that the Budd-e will become a production model.

While some auto makers like General Motors will be looking to boost current car sales, companies like Rinspeed will be looking years - perhaps decades - into the future.

The Swiss car makers unveiled a self-driving concept car called 'Etos'.

A total of eight HD exterior cameras visually monitor the vehicle's surroundings, establishing 180-degree panoramic views, virtual exterior mirrors and no blind spots.

Inside, there's a retracting steering wheel which creates added space when in auto-pilot mode, allowing drivers to explore two curved 21.5-inch Ultra HD widescreen monitors or simply read a book.

Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed says: "In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

The Etos comes complete with an on-board DJI drone to snap road selfies during journeys... or even more unusual missions.

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them," says Rinderknecht.

It may seem like science fiction for some, but Rinspeed's Etos concept vehicle may inspire cars of the future.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 6-9 January in Las Vegas and over 3,600 exhibitors are showing off their latest consumer tech products and services.

Las Vegas, US - 4 January 2015

1. Mid of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car

Las Vegas, US - 6 January 2015

2. Various of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car on display at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES)

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief, Faraday Future:

"This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

4. Various of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car on display

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief, Faraday Future:

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road."

6. Mid of Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, driving new Chevrolet Bolt EV

7. Wide of new Chevrolet Bolt EV coming to a stop

8. Various of new Chevrolet Bolt EV

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV:

"With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

10. Various of new Chevrolet Bolt EV

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV:

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience."

12. Mid of BMW employee preparing to park car using gesture control technology

13. Close of BMW employee's hands demonstrating gesture-controlled parking technology with smart watch

14. Various of BMW i3 self-parking

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Philipp Reinisch, BMW Group:

"With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

16. Tilt up as BMW i3 drives away

17. Pull out of sign reading (English): "Think New." at Volkswagen CES booth

18. Various of Volkswagen BUDD-e concept bus on display

19. Setup shot of Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen, talking to media

20. Cutaway of video camera screen

21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen:

"It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

22. Various of Volkswagen employee demonstrating BUDD-e gesture control technology

23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen:

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient."

24. Wide high shot of CES show floor

25. High shot of CES attendees on show floor

25. Various of Toyota FCV Plus on display

26. Various of Rinspeed 'Etos' concept car on display

27. Various of Rinspeed employee demonstrating retractable steering wheel for autonomous driving

28. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed:

"In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

29. Various of drone sat on Rinspeed 'Etos' rear

30. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed:

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them."

31. Tilt down to Rinspeed 'Etos' concept car on display