Digitizing the vehicle cockpit

With arrival of the SDVs, the vehicle cockpit is being transformed from a static hardware-defined environment into a dynamic, software-driven digital experience hub — personalized, upgradeable, connected and monetizable.

Functions once linked to physical controls, such as climate, navigation and driver assistance, are now integrated into digital interfaces that are much easier to update over-the-air (OTA). These OTA updates can introduce new interfaces, apps, themes and business models, such as subscription-based infotainment or driver-assist displays. More hardware is decoupled from software, allowing cockpit features to evolve through software updates instead of requiring new hardware generations. This enables longer life cycles for displays, sensors and controls while continuously enriching the digital interface.

SDVs rely on central computing platforms rather than isolated electronic control units (ECUs). This allows integration of instrument clusters, infotainment, ADAS visualization and climate/comfort systems into unified digital cockpits. Additionally, zonal architecture reduces wiring complexity and makes cockpit digitization more scalable.

Enabling a vehicle’s interface to connect with outside devices and customize the experience for the passenger is already a key topic being researched by many automakers that are preparing for one of the biggest shifts the industry has ever seen. While there is organic evolution of HMI within the vehicle, the most significant developments occur in line with the emerging new trends in areas, such as infotainment, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), software, and security.

This report seeks to review some of the many emerging vehicle interface and experience technologies that are increasingly being seen in vehicle cockpits worldwide, including AI-based voice assistants and chatbots, gaming and other entertainment features, augmented reality and 3D navigation, driver/occupant monitoring systems and in-vehicle personalization trends, among others.

The systems and technologies reviewed in this report were selected based on below factors:

− An increased importance at conferences and trade shows

− A potentially transformative feature that could affect existing established technologies

− Direct interest from automakers and suppliers for S&P Global research

− Trends outside the vehicle industry that are likely to spread into automotive.