The UX paradox of modern cars: smarter, yet harder to use. How to fix it.

What’s Over the Event Horizon? Technology in automotive is moving at lightspeed. The idea of an auto-ecosystem, where vehicles seamlessly connect to users’ lives, only emerged 6–7 years ago. AI only became mainstream in UX/CX around 2022. These concepts are still in their infancy, making it hard to predict not just what’s possible, but what customers will truly want. And increasingly, the customer isn’t the user - think ride-shares, subscriptions, family sharing. Cars must become more intuitive to individuals, not just owners. Will vehicles interlink with each other? Intertwine with their cities? Will any of this matter? We won’t know until we try. Famously, when asked about his next great photograph, the late-great Kishin Shinoyama said: “I don’t know. Ask [me in] that moment in time.” That same passion for exploring the unknown is what OEMs need right now. This isn’t a time to fear change - it's the time to turn uncertainty into opportunity. These are just some of the concepts being explored in UX-CX Automotive, 2026. 📍 Munich | January 28–29 https://lnkd.in/g3d9usj3 🚀 Explore future uses of tech in the UX/CX space https://lnkd.in/gXHbe8zh

Here's a breakdown on human-centered automotive HMI design.    Today’s HMI is where design meets human instinct — every tap, glance, and alert shaped to keep drivers focused, not distracted.   From multimodal feedback, intuitive UI layouts, and integration with intelligent systems such as Driver Monitoring and ADAS, understand how OEMs are creating cockpits that adapt to people, not the other way around.   Read the full A–Z guide: https://lnkd.in/g2PUTKbH #HMIDevelopment #AutomotiveHMI #UI #UserExperience #UX

𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲: 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗦 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 Today User Driven Strategies releases the first edition of our ADAS Feature Audit, benchmarking how 94 global brands implement driver assistance features across 779 vehicle models in the US, Europe, and China, with detail down to trim-level feature availability. It also includes data on the number and locations of radar and the numbers of cameras and sensors supporting each driver-assistance function, giving a clear view of how different OEMs deliver and market their capability and coverage. Together with our Infotainment Feature Audit (launched in September), this forms a comprehensive independent reference for feature benchmarking worldwide. Designed for UX, product planning, and marketing teams, these audits reveal how features evolve, regionalize, and converge, quickly turning complex data into usable intelligence. To learn more or request access: message me or visit us at https://lnkd.in/erZAW9Ge #AutomotiveUX #ADAS #HMI #UXResearch #VehicleUX #Benchmarking #ProductStrategy #UserExperience User Driven Strategies

I’ve been reading articles about “AI-driven vehicle personalization,” and many of the examples still sound the same as they did years ago. Maybe the real issue isn’t the technology — maybe people simply haven’t changed the way they expect or use AI. For example, would anyone in a first-class airplane cabin really want the kind of AI personalization these articles describe? I’m not convinced. Most people probably wouldn’t use it, and many wouldn’t even want it. I believe the real value of AI in mobility isn’t in visible features like adjusting seats, lights, or playlists. The real change is happening quietly in the background — in ways users may not notice at all. AI that reduces effort, understands context, and improves the experience without asking for input — that’s where the meaningful transformation truly is. #ai #vehicle #carux #ux #autonomous https://lnkd.in/gBtCajih

🚗 Idle Stop Engine – Great in Theory, Needs Precision in Practice As someone who’s deeply interested in product innovation and user experience, I recently reflected on the Idle Stop Engine feature that’s becoming common in many modern vehicles. The concept is brilliant — automatically stopping the engine when the car is idle to save fuel and reduce emissions. It aligns perfectly with sustainability goals and efficient design thinking. 🌱 However, as a user, I’ve noticed that the execution isn’t always seamless. Sometimes, the engine stops or restarts at inconvenient moments, creating a slight discomfort in the driving experience. From a Product Management perspective, this reminds me of an important principle: > “A great feature isn’t just about what it does — it’s about how consistently and precisely it performs in real-world conditions.” I believe automakers can elevate this feature further by focusing on precision testing, contextual calibration, and user feedback loops — ensuring the system adapts intelligently to different driving patterns, climates, and user expectations. In the end, it’s these fine details that turn a good feature into a great one — something every aspiring product manager should keep in mind while designing experiences that truly resonate with end users. #ProductManagement #UserExperience #AutomotiveInnovation #Sustainability #AspiringProductManager #DesignThinking

💥 "...we don't just develop navigation software. We create experiences that truly matters to people." Tamer Khalayleh (卡来) For too long, the digital cockpit has been a static feature, not a living experience. The collaboration between Zeekr Technology Europe/ZEEKR极氪 Mapbox, and Intellias Mobility/Intellias fundamentally changes this. This isn't just an update; it's the true promise of the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) in action, and it’s why it was just named "Navigation App of the Year" at the 2025 AutoTech Breakthrough Awards. They achieved this by "Breaking Through with Customer-Led Navigation Intelligence": 🦄 Co-Created: An AI-powered feedback loop lets drivers actively co-develop their HMI via voice and screen captures 🦄 Rapidly Deployed: The initial system was delivered in a record 10 weeks!!! 🦄 Constantly Evolving: It's an EV-first co-pilot that improves daily via seamless OTA updates “We’re honored to receive this recognition together with Intellias. By combining AI technology with direct driver feedback and leveraging Mapbox’s powerful mapping capabilities, we’ve taken meaningful steps toward making navigation more intuitive, dynamic and responsive, delivering real relevant information to our customers. This is how we innovate: with purpose, with speed, and with our customers at the center.” Giovanni Lanfranchi, CEO at Zeekr Technology Europe. This #collaboration proves that the vehicle's #digital #experience is no longer a fixed component, but the most #powerful, #dynamic relationship a #brand can build with its driver. *** Zeekr Technology Europe (ZTE), based in Gothenburg, Sweden, is the core European R&D and engineering center for the premium EV brand Zeekr. As a key innovation hub within the GEELY Holding Group, ZTE develops foundational vehicle architectures (like the SEA platform) and software for its parent brand, Zeekr. It also co-develops technology with its sister companies, including Volvo Cars, Polestar, and Lynk & Co. *** #ZEEKR #Mapbox #Intellias #SDV #AutoTechAwards #DigitalCockpit #EV #UX #Innovation Juergen Friese Alex Barth Peter Sirota ( ©️ Zeekr Technology Europe )

Why do cars still need physical controls? We keep putting giant screens in cars, but they often make the simple parts of driving slower and more distracting. A touch panel looks modern in a promo video, yet it turns a quick action into a search task. The goal is not to go back in time. It is to work with the way people actually feel and react while driving (and how they actually want to use an interface). Some actions are easier when they are in your hands. A dial you can feel without looking gives comfort and control that a glossy screen cannot match. Good car UX is not about how big the screen is. Let screens handle maps and media, and leave core functions to stay tactile and instinctive. When the interaction feels natural, the car feels safer and (if you ask me) is more fun to drive. Photo by Martin Katler on Unsplash

Take a look at Toyota's Mobi, an electric bubble car for kids that can take them to any destination without an adult on board. Mobi looks more like an escape pod than a car. According to Toyota, the novel concept is autonomous and uses AI to control navigation, speed, and maneuvering through traffic. The child, depending on his or her age, can even communicate with the UX Friend, Mobi's AI assistant. It would fill a huge gap in the transportation market, but would you trust it with your kids? Full story: https://lnkd.in/gBp7WvMJ

𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝗔𝗥 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿. At 60+ FPS, an AR navigation arrow in the HUD doesn’t just look smooth — it feels futuristic, natural, and confidence-inspiring. Drop below that, and instead of thinking “this is the future,” the driver feels the same frustration as when a brand-new smartphone stutters on day one. In automotive UX, perception is reality. Smoothness isn’t cosmetic — it’s the difference between a premium innovation and a system that instantly feels outdated. And once trust is broken, it’s almost impossible to recover. Drivers today are conditioned by flawless smartphone AR and high-performance consumer tech. They won’t tolerate lag, especially not in premium vehicles. The brands that deliver high-performance AR first won’t just meet expectations — they’ll 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆. At e.solutions GmbH, we achieve this level of performance through our ultra-lean in-house 3D engine, built specifically for automotive use cases. No pre-defined assets. No bloat.  Our expert graphics programmers create maximum visual impact in real-time applications with minimum resource consumption by crafting the visualizations from scratch with a clear vision in mind. 𝗔 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻-𝗰𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. #AugmentedReality #AutomotiveSoftware #ARHUD #HUD #AutomotiveUX #FutureOfMobility #SoftwareDefinedVehicles #SDV #InCarExperience #AutomotiveInnovation 

Our new paper, “Mind Over Matter: Investigating the Influence of Drivers’ Perceptions on the Misuse of Automated Vehicles,” has been published in the Proceedings of the AutoUI 2025. In this study, we investigate how drivers’ preconceptions of driving automation systems can lead to misuse. Many thanks to Fjollë Novakazi and MariAnne Karlsson for a meaningful collaboration.