The photo shows the E&E architecture on display at Pleos 25. (Image provided by Hyundai Motor and Kia)
SEOUL, March 29 (Korea Bizwire) — Hyundai Motor Group on Friday introduced Pleos, its new mobility software brand and technology platform, as part of a bold strategy to transform itself into a software-centered mobility tech company. The announcement was made during the group’s developer conference Pleos 25, held at COEX in Seoul.
Pleos — a fusion of the Latin word Pleo (meaning “more”) and OS (operating system) — encompasses Hyundai’s vision to build an open, intelligent mobility ecosystem powered by in-house software and platform development.
At the core of the Pleos platform are two major pillars: Pleos Vehicle OS, a software-defined operating system for vehicle control, and Pleos Connect, a next-generation infotainment system based on Android Automotive OS (AAOS).
Pleos Vehicle OS is designed to enable real-time connectivity and over-the-air updates via Hyundai’s next-gen electrical/electronic (E&E) architecture. By consolidating hardware components into high-performance computing units and zone controllers, the platform reduces the number of control units by about 66%, significantly improving software flexibility and efficiency.
Pleos Connect, set to roll out starting with new vehicle models in Q2 2026, will offer enhanced connectivity between mobile devices and vehicles. It also features Gleo AI, an integrated voice assistant that supports personalized in-car experiences. Hyundai plans to install Pleos Connect in more than 20 million vehicles by 2030.
Song Chang-hyun, President and Head of the AVP Division at Hyundai and Kia, delivers a keynote speech at the developer conference “Pleos 25″ held at COEX in Gangnam, Seoul, on March 28, 2025. (Image provided by Hyundai Motor and Kia)
The group also revealed Atria AI, its proprietary autonomous driving software, which it plans to apply to Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) test cars in the third quarter of 2026. Atria AI operates without the need for HD maps, instead relying on eight 8MP cameras and a radar to interpret road environments while adhering to local traffic laws.
In an effort to address social issues like mobility access and regional depopulation, Hyundai launched the Next Urban Mobility Alliance (NUMA) — a public-private cooperation framework aimed at deploying demand-responsive transportation (DRT) solutions like the Shucle platform and accessibility tools such as the R1 device. These will be rolled out in partnership with government agencies in Korea and Europe.
Hyundai also unveiled Pleos Playground, an open app development ecosystem that enables developers to create and deploy custom vehicle applications.
Major global partners, including Google, Samsung, Naver, Uber, Unity, and car-sharing platform SOCAR, joined the event to signal their support and future collaborations. Google emphasized expansion into next-gen AI-based infotainment systems, while Samsung highlighted the role of its SmartThings IoT platform in linking SDVs to smart homes and mobile devices.
A view of Hyundai Motor Grou’s Metaplant America
Naver outlined plans for AI-driven personalized services like voice search and destination recommendations. SOCAR praised the open SDV platform for improving shared mobility operations, and Unity expressed enthusiasm for co-developing in-vehicle gaming and content creation tools with Hyundai.
“Our foundation in E&E architecture, OS, UX, AI, and partnerships positions us to realize the future of cloud-based mobility,” said Song Chang-hyun, head of AVP at Hyundai and Kia. “We are committed to building and evolving an open mobility ecosystem in collaboration with developers, partners, and cities worldwide.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
