🪐Autowist Report 111

Hyundai PLEOS, Li HALO OS, Gemini x Android Auto, Porsche Infotainment Upgrade

IN TODAY’S REPORT

💼BRIEFING

Top insights and analysis that is moving the needle in the automotive industry

Hyundai unveils SDV Platform: PLEOS

Credit: Hyundai

At the Pleos 25 developer conference in Seoul, Hyundai Motor Group introduced its new software platform brand, Pleos. The initiative is central to Hyundai's push toward connected, autonomous, cloud-based mobility experiences.

Pleos is an end-to-end mobility software platform that integrates High-performance chips & vehicle controllers, In-house vehicle OS, Pleos Connect (infotainment system based on Android Automotive OS), Cloud infrastructure, Fleet management tools, Smart mobility and logistics solutions.

Credit: Hyundai

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.

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.

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.

The following global partnerships were announced:

  • Samsung SmartThings: For smart home integration

  • Google: Deepening AAOS and Google services collaboration

  • Naver: Personalized search, map, and content in cars

  • SOCAR: Enhancing car-sharing through smart features

  • Unity: In-car gaming and real-time 3D content

A lot of claims and buzzwords. What is exactly happening here:

  1. Most OEMs have failed to introduce a paradigm shift within their existing organization. Call it innovators dilemma or plain old institutional inertia. The strategy that Hyundai is trying to employ is to create a new brand/product line to introduce the shift. How well they can execute this strategy is dependent on how they organize their best people around it.

  2. They will have to do it one their home turf: South Korea. Closer to the final product PLEOS is, higher will be the odds for it succeed. SW development and deployment is going to be a core operation for the OEM.

Li Auto Open sources their OS: Halo OS

Li Auto has announced it will open-source its in-house developed automotive operating system, Halo OS, making it the first automaker globally to do so.

Rivals like Nio have developed their own systems (e.g., SkyOS), but none have open-sourced them. Li Auto's Halo OS could become a foundational platform for the wider EV industry.

Source: Li Auto

One up on AUTOSAR

Compared to AUTOSAR, Halo OS boasts:

  • 2x faster response time

  • 5x more stable system response

  • 7-meter shorter emergency braking distance at 120 km/h

  • 80% lower AI virtualization performance loss

  • 90% lower sensor latency

Compared with the closed-source AUTOSAR operating system currently used by a large number of traditional automakers, Li Auto's Halo OS leads in terms of core performance, security, cost efficiency, adaptability and flexibility, Li said.

AUTOSAR is a global development partnership established in 2003 by automakers, suppliers and software industry companies to create a standardized software architecture for automotive electronic control units (ECUs).

It is not yet clear, what and when will it be open sourced exactly. The real question is whether they will open source anything that is more like a secret sauce.

First let’s examine what cause Li Auto to create such an OS in the first place.

The move stems from the supply chain crisis triggered by the global chip shortage in 2020 and the challenges posed by closed-source operating systems to chip adaptation and verification, he said.

Gaining independence from international players for critical technology is a matter of survival for some of the Chinese OEMs. Li Auto has not included IVI software in this. That could be because they still relay on Qualcomm as the chip vendor and then it is again a “closed” system.

Another point of difference is that Android penetration is quite different in the automotive sector. Linux is in most vehicles. Creating an alternative to Android, that is not subject to Chinese regulations will be a welcome move. This is where the value chain that Li Auto is opening up has the maximum potential to move the needle.

What underlying technology is it based on?

Source: Li Auto

The system supports all automotive chip architectures, including Infineon and Nvidia, and emerging Chinese chips from Horizon Robotics and SemiDrive.

Apart from the usual suspects (Thor, ARM Cortex processors, RH850, TriCore), it was interesting to see RISC-V also mentioned in both the real time and high performance hardware solution. ARM, being a closed model under licenses, is also seen as a risk for many of the players. Whereas, RISC-V being open source, is seen as the only alternative to ARM nowadays.

Source: Li Auto

Truth be told, I truly don’t believe that we are missing a key piece of technology in the industry. What is missing is the mindset and business acumen to pull this off. “Yet another” implementation of a middleware or OS is not going to help. How this fits into the Chinese ecosystem is how this becomes actually valuable.

Gemini is coming to Android Auto

Google is actively working on bringing Gemini and its Gemini Live experience to Android Auto, continuing the shift away from Google Assistant. Although not officially revealed or announced, there have been many sightings of Gemini in the latest Android Auto release.

For years now, the microphone icon that appears along the bottom/side bar in Android Auto has been themed to match Assistant. The multi-colored icon is visible through many of our own images of Google’s car platform, including the one below.

But this is starting to go away.

We noticed on Android Auto 14.0 that the microphone icon had ditched its Assistant colors for a completely white design. Tapping on it still brings up Assistant, but it’s a clear change.

There was a glimpse of Gemini on Android Auto early this year, but it seems progress is being made. Android Authority managed to enable the long-winded experience earlier this week, and has also spotted that Gemini Live is in development as well. While the former looks pretty rough around the edges and will need some optimization to be a good fit for the case, the idea of bringing Gemini Live to Android Auto is certainly an intriguing one.

Gemini has been at the core of Google’s AI efforts. All the latest AI features across multiple Google products make use of Gemini. In that way, it is no surprise that Gemini is making its way into Android Auto. Most voice assistants in cars are really bad. They simply don’t get the task done in a frictionless manner. Can Gemini fix that?

The biggest problems with today’s voice assistants are:

  1. Slow processing times

  2. Lack of larger memory context or follow ups

  3. Poor voice recognition

  4. Limited Integration

The only place where I see Gemini having a clear advantage over today’s options is point 2 (Lack of larger memory context or follow ups). Gemini, as seen from the demos, have a really good memory context within it’s conversational engine.
In terms of voice recognition and processing times, I see marginal improvement, but nothing drastic. I also believe that Gemini will have an upper hand in voice recognition in languages other than the most popular ones, given the dominance that Google had building up it’s language stack over the years to support the most number of languages than any other player in the market.

Porsche’s updated infotainment

Credit: Porsche

Porsche is significantly upgrading its infotainment system—Porsche Communication Management (PCM)—for the 2026 model year across the 911, Taycan, Panamera, and Cayenne lineups. This update brings improved performance, new features, and a more seamless digital experience.

What’s New?

  • Faster, More Capable Hardware: The updated PCM system runs on enhanced hardware, offering faster responsiveness and smoother operation.

  • App Center Access: A new built-in Porsche App Center allows users to download and use a wide variety of third-party apps, similar to smartphone app stores.

  • Amazon Alexa Integration: Alexa is now available alongside Porsche’s own Voice Pilot assistant.

  • Dolby Atmos Audio: Premium audio systems from Bose and Burmeister now support Dolby Atmos, delivering a fully immersive, spatial audio experience. Supported apps are accessible through the App Center.

  • Porsche Connect Included: Every 2026 model includes a 10-year subscription to Porsche Connect, giving owners access to connected features and services without additional cost.

What’s the big deal?

  • One difference I have noticed on how Porsche handles it’s communications is it is very customer focused. It would be a rare sight if we see a press release that outlined its SW strategy or partnerships. But rather it focuses on the feature to the customer.

  • Porsche is still one of the most profitable Automotive company in the world(second to Ferrari). They are in a unique position as they already enjoy quite a lot of brand equity to buffer them against the rising Chinese competitors but it is soon running out. It is high time for Porsche to release features to meet their Chinese competition. Porsche ahs been performing poorly in China that last quarter(Porsche China deliveries drop 28% as competition intensifies). Quite recently, Porsche also announced that there will be more models specifically for the Chinese markets. Companies like Xiaomi released the SU7 with much better features for half the price and has had quite the appeal amongst Chinese buyers. That car beat the Porsche Taycan lap time at the Nürburgring by 20 seconds.

  • The takeaway for most European counterparts from this is to invest more into being more software-defined. China has put immense human resources(look up 9-9-6 culture) at solving the automotive problem on their end. To replicate that in Europe would be impossible. You can’t have you cake and eat it too

⚡ROUNDUP

Key headlines shaping the auto industry this week

  1. BYD’s first ultra-luxury electric sedan launches at under $90,000: Meet the Yangwang U7 (Link)

  2. Lucid’s Floor Mats Are Doing Their Best Toyota Impression, Trapping The Pedal (Link)

  3. Ferrari Jacks Up Prices 10% Thanks To Trump’s Tariffs—But You’ll Live (Link)

  4. Automotive must break the EV battery bottleneck (Link)

  5. Li Auto’s Halo OS aims to become the Android of automotive operating systems (Link)

  6. Nio to raise HK$4 billion from equity placement to fund R&D (Link)

  7. BYD to build a plant in India: Can it reshape the car and EV market? (Link)

  8. Rivian rolls out hands-free driving via software update (Link)

  9. Toyota plans to produce next-generation lithium batteries in Japan on hold (Link)

  10. Hyundai Goes All In On Connected Cars With New 'Pleos' Software (Link)

  11. Hyundai’s EVs are about to get smarter and more efficient with its new ‘Pleos’ brand (Link)

  12. Trump’s auto tariffs are a gift to Tesla (Link)

  13. UltraSense Systems Introduces UltraSwitch: The Future of Automotive Door Switches (Link)

  14. China's Geely to consolidate in-house digital cockpit system R&D teams, source says (Link)

  15. Renesas Introduces Highly Integrated LCD Video Processor that Enables Next-Generation ASIL B Automotive Display Systems (Link)

  16. Autonomous Vehicle Service to extended to more areas in Abu Dhabi (Link)

  17. New Eagle Joins SDVerse to Propel Software-Defined Vehicle Innovation (Link)

  18. Continental Introduces a Display You Can Hear: Ac2ated Sound Turns Vehicle Display into a Speaker (Link)

  19. Cinemo drives AAOS experience forward with its brand-new CARS Connect Suite (Link)

  20. Tesla Cybertruck Sales Are Tanking. Here’s Why (Link)

  21. Porsche’s High-Speed Chase Toward the Digital Future (Link)

  22. Nio’s Firefly Brand to Enter German Market in Fall, Report (Link)

  23. Marelli to Showcase Latest “Speed-to-Market” Innovations at Auto Shanghai 2025 (Link)

  24. Stellantis, €38 million for electric vehicle components (Link)

  25. BMW Group Plant Debrecen enters the finish straight: Heartbeat of the plant comes to life with ramp-up of assembly (Link)

  26. Lucid to ramp customer deliveries for Gravity SUV by end of April (Link)

  27. Li Auto open-sources its in-house developed car operating system Halo OS (Link)

  28. Hyundai’s New Pleos Infotainment System Looks Like A Tesla Knockoff (Link)

  29. Hyundai Group Launches ‘Pleos’ Software Brand (Link)

  30. Subtle Android Auto Change Suggests Gemini Is Ready to Take Over the App (Link)

  31. Huawei partners with SAIC to launch most affordable Huawei EV brand on April 10th (Link)

  32. These brands will be hit hardest by Trump's new auto tariffs (Link)