Korean automaker Hyundai has announced the launch of a new generation of its infotainment system, called Pleos Connect, which will practically become the digital core for future models of the brand. According to the company, the new system will combine multimedia, the car's main operating system, the user interface and an environment for third-party application developers - all in a single architecture.
The first models to receive this system are expected in 2026 and these will be serial versions of the new generation Hyundai i30, as well as the updated Hyundai Tucson. As stated in the press release, the Pleos Connect platform was created with the principles of openness and scalability in mind, which will allow for rapid software updates, expansion of functions and personalization in real time.
One of the key highlights is the radical reduction in the number of physical controls. In the Pleos concept, most of the car's control functions are integrated into a large touch display that occupies a central place on the front panel. According to the developers, physical buttons will be reduced to an absolute minimum. Early prototypes have only rotary controls for volume and radio settings, while other functions are accessible via touch or voice commands. Some of the most important elements, such as cruise control, will remain duplicated on the steering wheel, which meets the requirements for convenience and safety.
The Pleos Connect system supports full multitasking, allowing you to run multiple applications in different windows at the same time and adapt the space to specific usage scenarios. One of the central elements of the system will be the built-in Gleo AI voice assistant, which is capable of recognizing contextual voice requests and performing complex commands. Hyundai notes that Gleo AI uses machine learning and can adapt to the speech style of a particular driver, increasing the accuracy and relevance of responses.
Despite the obvious parallels with Tesla's digital approach, Hyundai has no plans to completely abandon the digital dashboard. Unlike competitors that rely on a single central screen, the Korean brand has decided to retain a separate area for displaying key information about speed, navigation and technical parameters of the car. This, according to Hyundai, meets the expectations of drivers for ease of perception of information, and also improves ergonomics on the go.