• Hyundai Motor Group launches new “Pleos” software brand.
• It will develop a new vehicle operating system.
• A next-generation infotainment system is also in the pipeline.

New Hyundai vehicles like the 2025 Ioniq 5 have already switched to a new infotainment system that’s snappier and offers more features than before. But that was just the beginning, because Hyundai has big plans on the software side for its vehicles in the near future.

So big, in fact, that the Hyundai Motor Group has decided to launch a whole new brand called “Pleos” that will be tasked with developing a bunch of new things, including a proprietary vehicle operating system and a next-generation infotainment system for passenger vehicles.

The move comes as the Korean automaker looks to transition from a traditional car manufacturer into a mobility technology company. The announcement was accompanied by plenty of buzzwords, including “SDV,” “app ecosystems” and “cloud.” That doesn’t mean much for the average consumer, but among all the tech talk, there are some cool things that we can expect from future Hyundai, Kia and Genesis models thanks to the new Pleos subdivision.

When it comes to passenger cars, Pleos will be responsible for developing a new infotainment system called Pleos Connect. Based on the Android Automotive Operating System (AAOS), it will likely succeed the current ccNC system that’s found in the Hyundai Ioniq 9. Hyundai said the new interface will be similar to a smartphone but with some added features like split-view and multi-window functions. Inevitably, artificial intelligence will also be present in the form of “Gleo AI,” a voice recognition system that allows the driver to control multiple functions of the car.

Apps will also be supported, meaning owners could use some of their favorite smartphone apps directly in the car. That’s far from revolutionary, as other cars with AAOS like the Polestar 2 can already do this, but it’s an upgrade from what’s currently available from Hyundai. Think Google Maps routing with dynamic EV charging stops planning.

The company said the new Pleos Connect infotainment system will debut in the second quarter of next year, with 20 million cars expected to have it installed by 2030.

Pleos will also spearhead Hyundai’s bespoke vehicle operating system. That’s the software that makes an entire car function properly, and it’s different from what you interact with when you just want to set a destination in the navigation system. Similar to Rivian’s Zonal Architecture approach, Hyundai’s new vehicle OS will use zone-specific controllers along with a high-performance vehicle computer (HPVC). This makes manufacturing simpler and potentially more affordable.

One of the reasons behind Pleos developing a vehicle OS from the ground up is to easily integrate fleet management bits into it. That “SDV” buzzword I mentioned earlier stands for Software-Defined Vehicle, and in simple terms, it means the software of the car is more important than its spec sheet. That may not be exciting for the average driver who just wants to commute to work, but it’s pretty important for companies who want to keep a close eye on what their fleets are doing.

With vehicle tracking software built into the cars, it’s easier and cheaper for a client to keep tabs on its drivers because there’s no need for extra dongles and software. Pleos will also run all the cloud infrastructure needed for the communication between the vehicles and customers’ laptops.

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Source: Hyundai

On top of all that, Hyundai said it’s opening the gates for third-party mobile app developers as part of its Pleos Playground initiative. Devs will have access to vehicles, cloud, analytics, accessories, a comprehensive software development kit (SDK), design guides and sample codes to build cool apps and integrate features that nobody else has. That’s a big deal, and if it works, it could be a success story for Hyundai.

The development of third-party physical accessories is also much easier for Pleos-based vehicles because external hardware can simply be plugged into the vehicle without extra settings, Hyundai Motor Group said.