Hyundai tests new high-tech SDV system in IONIQ 6 electric vehicle
Kyiv • UNN
Hyundai is testing the Pleos Connect system on the IONIQ 6 to create smart AI-powered cars. By 2030, 20 million of the company's vehicles will be equipped with it.
Hyundai is testing a new software-defined vehicle (SDV) system based on the electric IONIQ 6, bringing the company closer to creating fully "smart" cars with deep integration of digital services, artificial intelligence, and updatable functionality. This is reported by Electrek, according to UNN.
Details
Following the presentation of its new advanced multimedia system, Pleos Connect, last month, Hyundai stated that this is the company's first major step from being a conventional automaker to becoming a "software-oriented mobility leader."
The system resembles what is used in Tesla models: it features apps and a customizable interface, making it similar to a smartphone and allowing for easier navigation of functions.
Hyundai's system consists of two main screens. The large central touchscreen is divided into three parts: driver information on the right, navigation and other apps on the right, and recently used programs pinned to the bottom panel.
Unlike Tesla, Hyundai's Pleos Connect has an additional smaller screen in front of the driver that displays critical information—speed, media, and turn-by-turn navigation—so there is no need to be distracted by the central system.
Another difference is the presence of physical buttons for climate control and other functions under the screen and on the steering wheel.
Pleos Connect first debuted in the new Grandeur in Korea this month and will gradually appear in new models, including the IONIQ 3 EV. By the end of the decade, the company plans to install this system in approximately 20 million Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis vehicles.
The new multimedia system is Hyundai's "first tangible step" toward SDV (software-defined vehicle) architecture, which will unlock a new level of in-car features.
It appears Hyundai is already testing this concept: the first SDV is expected to launch next year. New spy photos from SH Proshots (via TheKoreanCarBlog) show an IONIQ 6 prototype with the Pleos Connect system inside.
Externally, the car is almost indistinguishable from the updated version presented last year, but an additional screen running the Pleos Connect system has been added to the interior.
As Hyundai plans to release its first fully "software-defined" car in late 2027, more details are expected soon as prototypes undergo testing.
Gleo AI Assistant
The new Pleos Connect system will also feature an advanced voice assistant, Gleo AI. It is built on a large language model (LLM), so it will be able to learn and adapt based on interactions with the driver.
Users will be able to give commands such as "set a route here" or "find a restaurant nearby," as well as receive information from the internet—news, sports, weather, and more. Hyundai plans to actively develop this assistant over the coming years to create the most personalized experience for every driver.
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