Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
Hyundai Motor unveils next-gen AI infotainment system for SDV transformation
Hyundai Motor Group's Pleos Connect in-vehicle infotainment system / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
By Lee Min-hyung
Carmaker to equip more than 20 million vehicles with Pleos Connect by 2030
Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled its next-generation in-vehicle infotainment system called Pleos Connect, in a symbolic push for the carmaker’s swifter transition as a software-defined vehicle (SDV) maker.
The system features an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered voice assistant dubbed Gleo AI. Key in-vehicle information will also be seen at a 17-inch central display.
Pleos Connect is the group’s first mass-produced infotainment system, representing its transition to the era of SDVs and connected cars.
The carmaker hopes to shift the mood for its software business with the launch of the new system, after the company carried out a major leadership reshuffling of top management for its struggling Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division.
In January, the group named prominent autonomous driving expert Park Min-woo as its new head of the division and CEO of 42dot. Park is in charge of setting the group’s SDV and self-driving strategies. Park’s predecessor, Song Chang-hyun, offered to resign late last year on the carmaker’s delayed progress in autonomous driving.
The carmaker said Pleos Connect can be seen as a key milestone in the group’s shift toward not just SDVs, but also to so-called AI-defined vehicles, or ADIVs, where AI plays a central role in user interactions.
Hyundai Motor Group's Pleos Connect infotainment system / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
The group plans to apply Pleos Connect to the upcoming facelifted Grandeur flagship sedan in May, and expand its adoption globally, targeting around 20 million vehicles by 2030.
With Pleos Connect, users can control vehicle functions, access navigation and issue commands through voice recognition, while also enjoying a wide range of services, such as gaming, web browsing and media streaming, via third-party applications, the carmaker said.
A defining feature of Pleos Connect is its user-centric interface, designed to minimize driver distraction while maximizing ease of use.
The large display is divided into a driving information area and an app interface, allowing users to simultaneously monitor key vehicle data and access applications. A modular layout enables multitasking, while simplified graphics and intuitive controls enhance visibility and usability.
At the heart of the system is Gleo AI, an in-vehicle assistant based on large language model technology. It can understand conversational context, process multiple commands at once and even recognize vague expressions.
The assistant also enables voice control of vehicle functions and provides information, such as weather updates and news.
Pleos Connect further expands in-vehicle experiences through its “App Market,” an open platform that allows users to access a variety of external services directly from the car. It will support popular applications, including Naver Map, YouTube and Spotify, with plans to broaden offerings through global partnerships.
To support developers, the group has also introduced “Pleos Playground,” a platform providing development tools for creating vehicle-optimized applications.
“We will continue refining the platform based on user feedback and expand its global deployment to accelerate the firm’s transition into a software-centered mobility technology company,” an official from Hyundai Motor Group said.