Ahead of his presentation at Automotive Design & In-Cabin Conference, Manoj Kumar, software architect at Ford Motor Company, talks to Automotive Interiors World about bridging the SDV validation gap and using AI for verification and validation in multi-OS cockpits

What’s one thing happening in the industry right now that people can’t afford to ignore?
One important development that the industry cannot afford to ignore is the growing regulatory and consumer-safety focus on how drivers interact with the cockpit. Euro NCAP’s 2026 protocol places greater emphasis on providing easily accessible controls for important functions such as indicators, hazard lights, the horn, windshield wipers and headlights.

Continue reading Vehicle Tech Week speaker interview: Manoj Kumar, software architect, Ford Motor Company at Automotive Interiors World.

Why the shift to relaxed seating in autonomous vehicles could put passengers at greater risk and why we still lack the data to fix it

The seatbelt and airbag transformed vehicle safety in the 20th century. Yet for more than 50 years, occupant safety has been built around one core assumption: a person sits upright, faces forward, hands on the wheel, eyes on the road. Seatbelts, headrests and crumple zones are all engineered around that single driving position.

Autonomous vehicles invalidate that assumption, and engineers must now rethink occupant protection from first principles.

Continue reading Rethinking occupant safety and restraints for driverless cars at Automotive Interiors World.

Neusoft Smart Go and GigaDevice have announced that they are to co-develop “more competitive intelligent solutions” for intelligent cockpits, intelligent communication, central computing platforms, cockpit-driving-parking integration and zone controllers.

The strategic cooperation will leverage GigaDevice’s high-performance, highly reliable automotive-grade chips and Neusoft Smart Go’s full-domain technical expertise and mass production experience in upper-body automotive electronics.

As automotive E/E architecture rapidly shifts toward domain centralization and cross-domain integration, deep collaboration between chip vendors and automotive component suppliers has become critical to boost full-vehicle supply chain resilience and speed up cutting-edge hardware deployment, the companies said.

Under the agreement, the two sides will cooperate across three key dimensions: first, deepen the integration of automotive-grade chips and applications, accelerating the full adaptation and large-scale deployment of GigaDevice’s automotive storage and MCUs in Neusoft Smart Go’s in-vehicle product matrix to unlock new collaborative efficiency; second, build a secure and reliable supply chain assurance system, leveraging GigaDevice’s mature mass production capacity and Neusoft Smart Go’s market resources to boost supply chain response efficiency; and third, advance industrial ecosystem cooperation and co-construction, jointly conducting chip access testing, connecting high-quality upstream and downstream resources, and building a safe, collaborative and sustainable intelligent vehicle industry ecosystem.

Continue reading Neusoft Smart Go and GigaDevice to collaborate on intelligent cockpit solutions at Automotive Interiors World.

Nexteer Automotive has introduced its High Mount Direct Drive Steer-by-Wire Hand-Wheel Actuator (HMDD). According to the company, this compact actuator architecture helps OEMs rethink steering system packaging and cockpit design for software-defined vehicles. By combining a high-mount motor location, direct-drive responsiveness and stationary hub, HMDD enables greater design freedom, premium steering feel and scalable integration across vehicle platforms. As OEMs move toward software-defined, electrified and increasingly flexible vehicle architectures, steering systems have an opportunity to evolve from fixed mechanical layouts to more adaptable, software-enabled motion control solutions.

Alongside Nexteer’s low-mount option positioned under the dash, HMDD gives OEMs flexibility to select the actuator architecture that best supports their vehicle packaging, cockpit design and driver experience strategies.

Continue reading Nexteer’s compact high-mount actuator architecture enables greater cockpit design flexibility at Automotive Interiors World.

Italian design house Pininfarina has partnered with Exclua to design vehicle interiors solutions for the tuning and customization specialist. Each Exclua vehicle is individually commissioned and crafted to its client’s specifications. Pininfarina will use bespoke materials, refined color palettes and handcrafted finishes to create what it calls “carefully orchestrated atmospheres in which comfort, privacy and exclusivity coexist seamlessly.”

Designs will include elements such as executive seating with fully reclining, massaging seats with ergonomic support; tinted partitions; sophisticated ambient lighting; advanced acoustic insulation; high-speed wi-fi; and smart screens and integrated control systems for seamless onboard connectivity.

“Exclua delivers a mobility experience defined by refinement, privacy, personalization and intelligence for clients who value comfort, control and exclusivity,” said Khalil Fakhoury of Exclua.

Continue reading Pininfarina collaborates with Exclua on bespoke luxury interiors at Automotive Interiors World.

MediaTek has qualified the Infineon 512 Mb Quad SPI NOR Flash, an automotive-grade NOR Flash memory solution, for use in its Dimensity Auto Cockpit platform C-X1, making the Infineon device an approved and easily adoptable memory option for automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers and design partners.

“Automotive memory is a strategic enabler of innovation as software-defined vehicles depend on high-performance systems-on-chip (SoCs), increasingly complex firmware and large data stores,” said Rainer Hoehler, senior vice president, memory solutions, Infineon Technologies.

“Cutting-edge digital cockpits and over-the-air update capabilities are driving the demand for higher density NOR flash. With the qualification by MediaTek, customers can now easily integrate Infineon’s 512 Mb NOR Flash as a future‑ready memory solution for smart cockpits.”

“Infineon’s automotive-grade NOR Flash delivers the performance, reliability, and functional safety features required for our premium and high-end Dimensity Auto Cockpit platform C-X1,” said Mike Chang, MediaTek vice president and auto business general manager.

Continue reading Infineon Technologies partners with MediaTek on AI-driven smart cockpit at Automotive Interiors World.

Ceva and Actions Technology have introduced the ATS296X series of Bluetooth audio chips, based on the Ceva-Waves Bluetooth High Data Throughput (HDT) platform. According to the companies, the devices are among the first commercial implementations of Bluetooth HDT technology, supporting the development of next-generation wireless audio products.

Bluetooth HDT, a feature of the upcoming Bluetooth 7.0 specification, increases peak data rates from 2Mbps to around 7.5Mbps. According to Ceva, the technology supports applications including lossless multi-channel audio, lower-latency audio, faster file transfers and accelerated over-the-air software updates, while enabling wireless multichannel speaker systems beyond traditional stereo.

For automotive interiors, Bluetooth HDT could enable higher-quality in-car audio, lower-latency wireless connectivity and faster over-the-air updates for next-generation infotainment systems.

Continue reading Ceva and Actions Technology launch Bluetooth HDT audio chips at Automotive Interiors World.

GM’s latest software updates introduce a series of enhancements to Cadillac’s freeform user interface. Shaped by customer feedback, the updates span the home screen, media, digital vehicle controls and apps.

GM has updated its infotainment system with a side queue that displays upcoming tracks and a new source selector for switching between audio apps with fewer inputs. The queue feature is available with supported paid music streaming services.

The company has also introduced a feature that links up to two driver profiles to a vehicle’s seat memory buttons, allowing drivers to restore their preferred seat position and personalized settings with a single press.

Continue reading GM updates Cadillac infotainment interface with new UI features at Automotive Interiors World.

Parkopedia and ParkMobile, both part of Arrive, are collaborating to enable in-car parking payments at more than 80,000 locations across the USA. The partnership combines ParkMobile’s parking network with Parkopedia’s in-vehicle integration technology to provide auto makers with a seamless parking payment experience.

In the 2025 In-Car Payments User Experience Report, 100% of US drivers surveyed stated they highly value easy-to-use in-car payment functionality. Furthermore, 70% indicated they would be willing to pay more upfront for a vehicle equipped with these services.

The integration enables drivers to find and pay for parking directly through the vehicle’s infotainment system, reducing the need to switch between multiple apps.

Continue reading Parkopedia and ParkMobile collaborate on in-car parking payments across USA at Automotive Interiors World.

Waymo has integrated Google’s Gemini AI assistant into the cabin of its Ojai robotaxi, alongside a redesigned three-screen interface. The system enables riders to use voice commands for cabin controls and journey information, while the autonomous driving system operates independently.

Designed specifically for ride-hailing, the Ojai features a cabin focused on passenger comfort and flexibility, with Waymo announcing the introduction of new in-car features, including the Gemini AI assistant and a redesigned user interface, aimed at enhancing the rider experience.

While the Waymo Driver manages the vehicle’s autonomous driving functions, Google’s Gemini AI assistant provides in-cabin support for passengers.

Continue reading Waymo adds Gemini AI and new user interface to Ojai robotaxi at Automotive Interiors World.