Future Hyundai Interiors to Share One Big Thing With Teslas
Hyundai’s new mobility software brand Pleos, introduced a few days ago at the Korean automaker’s developer conference in Seoul, will redefine the user experience in future Hyundai vehicles with a next-generation infotainment system called Pleos Connect.
The name is a compound word combining the Greek word ‘Pleo’, meaning ‘more’, and ‘OS’ for ‘Operating System.’ The global rollout is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2026 (likely the end of next year in North America), expanding to more than 20 million vehicles by 2030.
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The infotainment system will be based on the Android Automotive OS, with “unique, customizable and user-friendly features,” Hyundai said. It will enhance compatibility with mobile apps and feature a smartphone-like interface with split-view, multi-window functions and ‘Gleo AI’ voice recognition-based agentic AI for intelligent vehicle control. As previously reported, Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem will also be part of the mix.
At the conference, Hyundai previewed how Pleos Connect would work in a car. Strikingly, the ultra-wide digital panel seen in recent models is replaced by a single, Tesla-like centre touchscreen.
Not only that, but shift selection goes through the upper left corner of the screen (no more steering column-mounted shifter) and the battery’s charge level can be found at the top, as well—again, just like Teslas. In the process, the steering wheel gets rid of a number of buttons. That’s a pretty big gamble by Hyundai, one that will require a lot of getting used to especially from existing Hyundai customers.
The company also said that Pleos Connect will provide a personalized service environment based on ‘Pleos ID,’ a single, connected user profile accessible in any Pleos Connect-based vehicle anywhere.
Hyundai and Kia were the top-ranked mass-market brands in J.D. Power’s 2024 Tech Experience Index, while luxury brand Genesis ranked highest overall and highest among premium brands. Time will tell if that changes with the group’s next-generation infotainment system.
