Right now, the automotive world is pretty much split into two factions: those who favour a balance of physical controls and screens, and those pushing for screen-only interiors. Hyundai has long sided with the former (even if they’ve made some weird detours in the past), but a presentation at Hyundai’s annual CEO Investor Day in New York suggests a change of heart.
Like most carmakers these days, Hyundai will also be transitioning their vehicle lineup to Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), equipped with more modern technologies that aim to enable a smarter driving experience. And as part of the shift, the Korean marque will be introducing a new infotainment UX system, that from the various press photos, looks to be all-screen.
Hyundai calls its SDV system “Pleos” — a new software platform that integrates high-performance chips and controllers, vehicle operating systems, cloud infrastructure, mobility and logistics optimisation solutions, and an infotainment system — the latter being Pleos Connect. The platform is set to debut in Hyundai vehicles as early as Q2 2026.
The new infotainment system, Pleos Connect, is based on the Android Automotive OS (AAOS) that’s seen on Volvos, Polestars, and GM cars – allowing for more open support, openness, and scalability, thanks to the Android development ecosystem. It also features a smartphone-like UI with split-view, multi-window functions and ‘Gleo AI’ voice recognition-based agentic AI for intelligent vehicle control.
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The software will also introduce something called “Pleos ID” that allows for personalised settings via a connected user profile, which you can integrate by signing in to any Pleo Connect-based vehicle. While it is scheduled to make its first appearance in Q2 2026, Hyundai wishes to expand this system to more than 20 million vehicles by 2030.
Taking advantage of the openness of AAOS, Hyundai has also introduced Pleos Playground — an open development platform that allows third-party mobile app developers to freely access the software. Developers can distribute their apps through the “App Market”, where users can download and update apps easily, as in the mobile environment.
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During the presentation, Head of Hyundai’s Vehicle Architecture & Integration Centre, Jihan Ryu, said, “For decades, the automotive industry was defined by one goal: build and sell quality vehicles. Today, that paradigm is fundamentally shifting. The power of software has unlocked the potential for vehicles to continuously evolve long after they leave the factory.”
The press release adds that Pleos will provide a “highly flexible plug-and-play environment that supports diverse hardware solutions”, which will accelerate the implementation of security and feature updates on all of its future models.
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Although this interior design may look imposing for button lovers, several iterations of this system – as seen on videos on the marque’s YouTube channel – reveal a row of physical buttons beneath the centre screen. Hyundai hasn’t confirmed their functions yet, but we hope that they add convenience and usability, sparing drivers from (too much) frustration.
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