Hyundai Motor Group unveils Pleos Connect with Gleo AI, targeting 20 million vehicles by 2030

Hyundai Motor Group Launches Pleos Connect Infotainment System

Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled Pleos Connect, a next-gen AI infotainment system that signals the Korean automaker's transition toward becoming a software-defined vehicle (SDV) company 3

3

. The in-vehicle infotainment system will debut next month on the redesigned Hyundai Grandeur in Korea, followed by the Ioniq 3 EV in Europe, with roughly 20 million Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis vehicles slated to receive the system by 2030 1

1

. Developed through extensive research into driver behavior at Hyundai Motor Group's user experience (UX) studios in Seoul, Irvine, Frankfurt, and Shanghai, Pleos Connect aims to deliver a smartphone-like experience while minimizing driver distraction 2

2

.

Gleo AI Voice Assistant Powers Multi-Command Processing

At the core of Pleos Connect sits Gleo AI, an AI-powered voice assistant built on large language model technology that can understand conversational context and process multiple commands simultaneously 3

3

. The assistant delivers context-aware responses based on conversations and driving context, and can automatically identify the speaker's location within the cabin to execute commands accurately 1

1

. For instance, the front passenger can request seat heating without specifying "the passenger seat," and the system will recognize their position. Gleo AI enables voice control of vehicle functions, navigation, and can search the web for weather updates, sports news, and more 2

2

. The carmaker plans to continue developing Gleo AI over the next few years to offer custom-tailored mobility experiences for every driver, with the system continuing to learn and evolve through conversations.

Physical Buttons and Digital Instrument Cluster Set Pleos Apart

Pleos Connect features a large 17-inch central touchscreen divided into three sections: driver information on the left, navigation and apps on the right, and a bottom bar for pinned or recently used apps 3

3

2

2

. While the setup bears similarities to Tesla's infotainment approach, Hyundai Motor Group includes critical differentiators: a smaller, slim digital instrument cluster in front of the driver displaying speed, media, and turn-by-turn directions, plus physical buttons below the central screen and on the steering wheel for climate control, media, and other functions 2

2

1

1

. This user-centric interface design aims to minimize driver distraction while maximizing ease of use, allowing drivers to access seat heaters, temperature control, and volume control quickly without navigating through menus.

App Market and OTA Updates Expand In-Vehicle Capabilities

Hyundai Motor Group has invested in a proprietary App Market, an open platform where drivers can download various applications directly to their vehicles 1

1

3

3

. Popular services including YouTube, Spotify, and Naver Map are already available natively, with plans to expand offerings through global partnerships. The platform will support gaming, web browsing, and media streaming via third-party applications. To encourage developer participation, the group introduced Pleos Playground, a platform providing development tools for creating vehicle-optimized applications 3

3

. Through OTA updates, the entire Pleos Connect system will continue to evolve, adding new features and capabilities over time 2

2

.

Strategic Shift Toward AI-Defined Vehicles

The launch of Pleos Connect represents Hyundai Motor Group's first tangible step toward an SDV architecture and marks a symbolic push in the carmaker's transition to what it calls AI-defined vehicle (ADIV) technology, where AI plays a central role in user interactions 2

2

3

3

. This move comes after the company carried out a major leadership reshuffling of its struggling Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division, naming autonomous driving expert Park Min-woo as the new division head and CEO of 42dot in January 3

3

. "Pleos Connect is a platform born from our deep commitment to understanding customers' mobility experiences," said Changsub Kim, Senior Research Engineer at Hyundai Motor Group's UX Strategy Team, adding that the company will continue listening to customer feedback to design in-vehicle experiences that enrich mobility value 1

1

. As Gleo AI integrates with more apps in the future, it will make it easier for drivers to find favorite shops or discover new destinations based on their preferences, signaling Hyundai's ambition to compete in the increasingly software-centric automotive landscape.