- Hyundai Motor Group unveiled the finished version of its new Pleos Connect infotainment system.
- Developed from the ground up for the next wave of software-defined vehicles, it debuts next month.
- The Korean car conglomerate said over 20 million cars will get the new infotainment system by 2030.
Hyundai Motor Group’s new Pleos Connect infotainment system is going mainstream starting next month, with roughly 20 million Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis cars slated to get the new setup by 2030.
It’s a big deal for the Korean auto conglomerate, which has so far delivered acceptable software experiences in its vehicles, but with plenty of room for improvement. Pleos Connect aims to fix all the wrongs of its predecessors, thanks to what seems like the perfect mix of screens, buttons, and—inevitably—AI.
All Pleos Connect-equipped cars will come with a large central touchscreen that looks like it spent a little too much time next to Tesla's headquarters. This screen can be split into three separate sections, showing visualizations for the advanced driver assistance systems, navigation, and multimedia. There’s also a bottom bar with virtual buttons, as well as a speed indicator in the top left corner, just like on Tesla’s Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck.
However, unlike Tesla’s EVs, there’s a second, smaller screen in front of the steering wheel, acting as a conventional digital instrument cluster. Additionally, a row of physical buttons sits under the main touchscreen, offering quick and easy access to the seat heaters, temperature control, and volume control.
Hyundai Motor Group has also invested in a proprietary App Market, where drivers will be able to download different apps. YouTube and Spotify are already available natively, and others will follow.
What’s more, an in-house voice assistant known as Gleo AI is at the heart of the entire system, the company said. The AI-powered personal assistant can control various vehicle features and can accept multiple commands in one go. It can deliver context-aware responses, based on conversations and driving context, and it can automatically identify the speaker’s location within the cabin to execute commands. For instance, the front passenger can ask Gleo AI to heat their seat without mentioning “the passenger seat.”
Gallery: Pleos Connect: Hyundai Motor Group's new infotainment system
In the future, Hyundai’s AI assistant will integrate with other apps, making it easier for drivers to find their favorite shops or discover new destinations based on their preferences.
“Pleos Connect is a platform born from our deep commitment to understanding customers’ mobility experiences,” said Changsub Kim, Senior Research Engineer, UX Strategy Team at Hyundai Motor Group. “Even after launch, we will continue to listen closely to diverse customer voices and strive to design in-vehicle experiences that further enrich the value of mobility.”
The first car to get Pleo Connect is the redesigned Hyundai Grandeur, which debuts next month in Korea. Then, the new Hyundai Ioniq 3 EV will debut the infotainment system in Europe, with other markets to follow.
