Planting the CES Flag in Asia

CES Asia was conceived by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® as a deliberate and strategic move: to establish a CES presence in Asia, where innovation, manufacturing and consumer adoption were accelerating at unprecedented speed. Shanghai was chosen with intention. As CTA President and CEO Gary Shapiro explained at the time, the city represented “the city of the future” — a global center of commerce and a gateway to the Chinese marketplace, which sits at the core of the global consumer technology industry.

CES Asia was designed to be curated and selective. Exhibitors applied for space and were evaluated on innovation, ensuring the show remained focused, high quality and targeted. The goal was not to replicate CES, but to adapt it — creating a distinct platform that reflected regional priorities while upholding the CES standard.

The show quickly became the premier consumer technology event in the region. It brought together global brands, rising startups, international media, buyers and decision makers, offering exclusive access to some of the biggest technology companies in China and around the world.

A Show That Quickly Impressed

2015: The Inaugural Moment

CES Asia launched in May 2015 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre with more than 200 leading global brands, including Audi, IBM, Intel, Ford, JD.com, China Mobile and Volkswagen. Spanning 20,000 square meters, the show made a powerful statement from day one. Keynotes from Audi, IBM and Intel emphasized that CES Asia would be a serious innovation forum, not an experiment.

2016: Momentum Builds

In its first full year, CES Asia expanded rapidly. The show doubled in physical footprint, growing to four exhibit halls and more than 32,000 gross square meters. With over 350 exhibitors from 24 countries across 15 product categories, CES Asia also introduced hallmarks familiar to CES attendees — Startup Park, drone demonstrations and Robots on the Runway — reimagined for the Shanghai audience.

2017: Vehicles Take Center Stage

By its third year, CES Asia welcomed more than 450 exhibitors from 22 countries. While diversity across categories remained strong, vehicle tech began to dominate the floor, signaling a broader industry shift that would define the show’s later years — and increasingly shape CES in Las Vegas as well.

2018: A Record-Breaking Peak

CES Asia 2018 marked a high point. An independent audit confirmed record attendance of 46,748 participants from 75 countries, representing a 21% increase year over year and 63% growth since the show’s debut. Automotive innovation led the narrative, with headline moments including Byton’s K-Byte autonomous concept car, Cadillac’s debut of Super Cruise in China, and major advancements around Baidu’s Apollo autonomous driving platform. The launch of the CES Asia Innovation Awards further cemented the show’s standing as a true innovation proving ground.

2019: The Most Ambitious Edition

In 2019, CES Asia was its most expansive. With 522 exhibiting companies, nearly 60,000 square meters of exhibit space and more than 42,000 attendees — including over 1500 members of the media — the full breadth of the tech ecosystem was showcased. 5G, artificial intelligence and vehicle tech dominated, with keynote speakers from Hyundai, Audi China, Wacom and Horizon Robotics.

The CES Asia Effect

CES Asia proves that the CES model can travel — successfully — to new markets while remaining selective, innovative and powerful. Nearly 60% of CES Asia exhibitors have been new to CES events, underscoring the show’s unique role as a gateway to new companies, partnerships and ideas in the Asian market. It has convened startups and industry leaders, fueled global business across more than 80 countries and regions, and helped accelerate transformative technologies such as 5G, AI, augmented and virtual reality, and next generation vehicle tech. The rapid growth and success of CES Asia has firmly cemented its connection with CES across the Asian market.

Sixty Years of Looking Forward

As CES celebrates its 60th anniversary in Las Vegas in 2027, CES Asia stands as a powerful example of what has defined the show since the beginning: the willingness to adapt, expand and lead where innovation is happening next. Whether on the show floor in Nevada or in the heart of Shanghai, CES has always been about more than technology. It’s about connection, progress and envisioning the future.

CES Asia remains embedded in CES’s global perspective and its continued mission to convene the global tech community to tackle what’s next and showcase technology that improves lives around the world. And as CES looks ahead to its next six decades, one thing is certain: the story of CES Asia isn’t over — it’s simply waiting for its next chapter.