U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao to Discuss Innovation Agenda at CES 2018

Hong Kong, China, January 11, 2018 /ChinaNewswire.com/ - U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao to Discuss Innovation Agenda at CES 2018

Arlington, VA, December 22, 2017 – United States Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao will attend CES 2018#174;, Jan. 9-12 in Las Vegas, Nev, headlining the Smart Cities at CES 2018 conference programming on Jan. 10 at 10:30-11:00 AM PT at Westgate, Level 1, Pavilion 9. Secretary Chao and Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) – the owner and producer of CES – will have a candid conversation about the intersection of technology and disruptive innovation transforming cities, making transportation safer, improving efficiencies and connecting Americans and American business to greater opportunity.

“New technologies will fundamentally change the way Americans travel and connect with one another,” said Secretary Chao. “At the U.S. Department of Transportation, we are focusing on the safe and secure integration of emerging technologies that will improve access and mobility for millions.”

“We’re thrilled to have America’s top transportation official join us at CES, where government policy leaders from around the world come together to see, try and talk about the tech innovations that are changing our lives for the better,” said Shapiro. “Secretary Chao’s insights offer a unique opportunity for industry leaders to learn how the administration is committed to rebuilding our aging infrastructure and integrating technology solutions to enhance mobility. CES has been a world leader on self-driving vehicles, driver-assist and drone technologies for years – and now, CES is the only trade show that brings together the technologies, solutions, players, and audiences in the smart city sector.”

Forecasters predict two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050, and global spending on smart cities will reach $34.35 billion by 2020. Smart Cities: Thriving in the Future presented by Consumer Technology Association and Deloitte will explore what’s next for smart cities including smart transportation, smart energy and smart grid, public safety, healthcare, data analytics and security, artificial intelligence and governance and policy. Also, Transforming the Future of Public Safety Communication presented by FirstNet will examine how smart cities will impact public safety, and how innovators can use sensor networks, human intelligence and data, and technology tools to develop and share life-saving information.

“Any holistic smart city plan should include seamlessly integrated multi-modal transportation solutions, with the public and private sectors working closely together to bring those solutions to life,” said Craig Giffi, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. automotive practice leader. “The smart cities of tomorrow require both innovative business leaders and policymakers, and Deloitte is delighted to be collaborating with CTA to host Secretary Chao as part of the CES 2018 Smart Cities conference track, exploring how the U.S. Department of Transportation is helping enable the future of mobility.”

Before serving as Secretary of Transportation, Secretary Chao served as U.S. Secretary of Labor for eight years under President George W. Bush. Secretary Chao is the first Asian American woman to be appointed to a U.S. president's cabinet in American history. She previously served as Deputy Secretary of Transportation, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of America, and Director of the Peace Corps.

CES 2018 delivers an unrivaled experience for executives and professionals, offering the latest in intelligent transportation, the opportunity to demo self-driving vehicles and discover how 5G connectivity and IoT technologies are driving innovations. CES 2018, the global stage for innovation, will span more than 2.6 million net square feet of exhibit space and feature more than 3,900 exhibiting companies unveiling technologies, products and services that touch virtually every industry.

Most U.S. consumers are excited about the benefits of SDVs, and almost two-thirds want to swap their current cars for self-driving vehicles, according to CTA’s Self-Driving Vehicles: Consumer Sentiments.

CTA's most recent U.S. Consumer Technology Sales and Forecasts report projects total U.S. drone sales will reach 3.4 million units (up 40 percent from 2016) and $1.1 billion in revenue (up 44 percent) for the first time in 2017.