GM will not be attending the Consumer Electronic Show on January 5th, where it will unveil the electric Silverado.
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General Motors has canceled its in-person attendance at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show on January 5 due to a new variant of COVID-19. GM CEO Mary Barra shared that her participation will take place remotely and during the event, she will unveil the new electric Silverado.
The hits are starting to come and they don't stop coming, and the latest COVID-19 Omicron variant continues to wreak havoc at major events. CES is the latest to face these challenges, with companies ditching in-person presence due to contagion fears. According to recent reports, General Motors was the last to withdraw from CES 2022, canceling its plans to host the main conference in a statement.
GM will offer a scheduled conference remotely
Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, was scheduled to give the keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show on January 5th. The plan was to show the company's next electric Chevrolet Silverado. The model is key to the company as it attempts to compete in the crucial electric pickup segment against upstarts like Tesla and Rivian.
Instead, the GM presentation will take place remotely. In a press statement, GM said that "CES is an important technology platform and we will continue our plans on January 5 to share important news from our company, including the introduction of the Chevrolet Silverado EV."
Other brands are also pulling out of CES 2022.
The news came on the same day that Waymo pulled out of a physical presence on the show, citing similar concerns. Earlier this week, Twitter, T-Mobile, Amazon and Meta, formerly known as Facebook, also canceled scheduled appearances. News outlets TechCrunch and The Verge also said their employees would not be attending in person.
In 2021, CES turned into a virtual event as the country battled the coronavirus pandemic. However, in 2022, CES is not hesitant and still plans to hold the conference as planned in Las Vegas. Although it has already received 42 cancellations, the Consumer Technology Association, which hosts the show, said it has registered 62 new exhibitors, more than enough to replace those who dropped out.
CES will seek to strengthen security measures against COVID
The CTA stated that "CES 2022 will move forward as it showcases major innovations in global health and safety, mobility and problem solving." CES will take steps to maximize visitor safety. Vaccinations are required for all participants, and masks are required in the conference room.
As the new Omicron variant is rapidly spreading around the world, it is likely that such cancellations will remain a part of life for the foreseeable future. In any case, the world will still see the new electric Silverado on January 5, but the presentation will not begin in a conference room in Las Vegas.
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