Hyundai Motor Group has officially pulled back the curtain on Pleos Connect, its next-generation in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system. Representing a pivotal milestone in the Group’s transition toward becoming a software-centric mobility leader, this platform is designed to blur the lines between mobile devices and the driving experience.
Built on the core pillars of intuitiveness, safety, and openness, Pleos Connect integrates advanced artificial intelligence with a scalable software architecture. The goal is clear: to transform the vehicle from a mere mode of transport into a sophisticated, living digital space.
A Global Launch Strategy
The system made its production-ready debut at UX Studio Seoul on April 29, evolving from the R&D concepts first seen at the Pleos 25 developer conference.
Debut: The new Hyundai Grandeur in Korea (May 2026).
Expansion: A phased global rollout, including the IONIQ 3 in Europe.
The 2030 Goal: Hyundai aims to power 20 million vehicles across the Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis brands with Pleos Connect by the end of the decade.
Designing the “Intuitive Cockpit”
Hyundai’s UX teams in Seoul, Irvine, Frankfurt, and Shanghai focused on creating an environment that feels familiar to smartphone users while minimizing driver distraction.
The Pleos Connect hardware layout features a dual-display configuration:
Large Central Screen: A wide-view interface divided into three functional zones.
Driving Information: Displays speed and safety alerts using 3D graphics for surrounding objects.
App Screen: Dedicated to navigation and media, featuring a “Split Screen” mode for multitasking.
Bottom Bar: A quick-access dock for pinned and recently used applications.
Slim Display: Positioned directly in the driver’s line of sight, this screen provides critical turn-by-turn directions and speed data so the driver never has to look away from the road.
To ensure safety, the system retains physical buttons on the steering wheel and center console. Additionally, a new three-finger gesture control allows users to reposition or close apps instantly without navigating complex menus.
Navigation Reimagined Through Big Data
The navigation experience has undergone a total overhaul to reduce “cognitive load”—the mental effort required to process information while driving.
Modular Interface: The navigation screen is no longer static. Drivers can use “floating cards” to track their ETA while running other apps.
Simplified Visuals: Complex graphics have been replaced with high-visibility icons based on user behavior data.
Real-Time Optimization: By utilizing live traffic data from the entire fleet, the system provides faster, more accurate route guidance.
Meet Gleo AI: Your Digital Passenger
At the heart of this technological leap is Gleo AI, a sophisticated voice assistant built on a Large Language Model (LLM). Unlike traditional voice commands, Gleo AI acts as a “companion” capable of understanding context and nuance.
Key capabilities of Gleo AI include:
Context Awareness: Understands abstract requests like “find a restaurant near here.”
Multi-Command Processing: Can handle multiple requests in a single sentence (e.g., “Set the AC to 72 degrees and find the nearest gas station”).
Zone-Specific Recognition: The AI knows who is talking. If the passenger asks to “turn on my seat heater,” it only activates the passenger side.
Web Integration: Provides real-time updates on news, weather, and sports via live web searches.
An Open Ecosystem: The Pleos App Market
Moving away from closed systems, Hyundai is embracing an open-platform approach. The Pleos App Market allows third-party developers to bring their services directly into the car.
Native Apps: Enjoy YouTube, Spotify, and TikTok (where available) directly through the car’s system without needing a smartphone connection.
Developer Tools: Through the ‘Pleos Playground’ platform, developers gain access to APIs to create bespoke gaming, entertainment, and vehicle management tools.
Local Partnerships: Initial integrations include NAVER for optimized mapping and automotive services.
From SDV to AIDV
Pleos Connect is the first tangible step toward Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs). Because the system supports Over-the-Air (OTA) updates, these vehicles will gain new features and performance improvements long after they leave the showroom.
Looking further ahead, Hyundai Motor Group views this as the foundation for Artificial Intelligence-Defined Vehicles (AIDVs)—cars that don’t just follow instructions but anticipate user needs through personalized, intelligent interaction.
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