The Human-Machine Interface solutions are the key to ensure that the advanced automotive technologies are interfaced with the user in simple and intuitive ways that enables them to operate these technologies with ease. HMI technologies are aiming to provide a user-centric holistic Human-Machine Interface to the consumer. The Future Automotive Industry Structure - FAST 2030 report, HMI is one of the seven trends that will reshape the automotive industry by 2030.

Some HMI technologies would feature prominently in the near future are:

Head-Up Display (HUD)

The head-up display was created to reduce driver distraction and to increase safety. To read the driving information from the instrument cluster, one has to take their eyes off the road for at least half a second. This means that when the driver keeps a speed of 120 km/h, they will be driving blind for about 33 meters. A head-up display (HUD) shows information exactly where the driver needs it – directly in the line of sight. With the Head-up display, the driver gets all relevant driving information such as speed, warnings, navigation guidance over the hood. With Augmented-Reality Head-up displays in addition to regular driving information, it also supplements the exterior view of the traffic conditions in front of the vehicle with virtual information for the driver.

For Continental, the HUD represents a key technology and ensures safety and comfort at all times. With this technology, we provide driver confidence in automated driving.

Natural 3D Lightfield Display

The natural 3D Lightfield display is creating a new dimension of comfort and safety. It provides a natural 3D user experience of the highest quality in the vehicle. 3D displays have benefits like the accuracy of object position, joy of use by providing attractiveness and user experience, reduced reaction time on unexpected events. Hence features like navigation, cruise control, parking, warnings in 3D make driving comfortable and intuitive. With the Lightfield technology, there is neither the need for cameras detecting head movement nor 3D glasses. As there is no need for head tracking, the 3D display is not limited to the driver’s view, and the front passenger and the occupants in the rear seat can also enjoy the three-dimensional experience. This opens the door for entertainment features in 3D like video conferencing, movies, online shopping, and much more.

Continental’s new 3D Lightfield application using Leia’s DLB (Diffractive Lightfield Backlighting) technology offers the next level above conventional 3D displays. It enables a crystal-clear screen, even when sunlight is shining directly onto it.

Cross-Domain Hub

Cross-Domain Hub is a crucial step towards the transformation of modern vehicle architecture that demands the consolidation of electronic control units (ECU). Cross-Domain Hub is a high-performance computer that integrates all the displays into a single unit and provides a holistic Human-Machine Interface. The driver can dynamically distribute content across multiple displays and place the information where they need to see it. The displays are enabled with touch, gesture recognition, voice recognition, and haptic feedback that allows the driver to stay focused on the road and makes driving safe. It provides a flexible user interface personalized for the user. The user interface is seamless across the integrated display, providing a consistent Human-Machine interface philosophy.

Continental provides a scalable solution to cater to the premium segment to entry Cross-Domain Hub. Our first Cross-Domain Hub has hit series production now.

Ac2ated Sound

A recent innovation that was showcased at CES 2020, this unique system fills the vehicle interior with lifelike immersive sound. It provides a breathtaking 3D sound reproduction, engaging passengers in an excellently detailed and evocative soundtrack, which helps them enjoy their in-car entertainment to the fullest. This system produces the highest audio quality, which is ideally suited for electric vehicles as well, saving space and weight. This system is inspired by the classical string instruments technology, where the wooden body is used to resonate chamber and actuators excite specific surfaces in the vehicle interior. This results in an extremely natural experience for the user.

Continental’s innovative concept abandons conventional speaker technology altogether. Combined with Sennheiser’s AMBEO Mobility, the concept achieves a breathtaking 3D sound reproduction that envelops passengers in an incredibly detailed and vivid soundscape and lets them enjoy their in-car entertainment to the fullest.

Smart Voice Assistant

Smart Voice Assistant helps in natural and safe communication with the vehicle. A few years back, people could hear the radio or their family with them while driving a car, but now cars itself is becoming a smart communication partner. Driver assistance and infotainment are supplying more and more information to the driver, so there is a need for solutions that ensure intuitive, easy, and safe interaction between the driver and the car. This HMI technology uses the most natural means of communication: the spoken word. The system is capable of communicating almost like a human. Smart and adaptive driver assistance system enables natural dialog, understands multiple questions in one sentence, and detects logical connections, and provides distraction-free operation via smart voice control enhances road safety.

Continental’s Smart Voice Assistant is an intelligent speech assistant that can learn and adapt to user behavior, preferences, and context. By that, it helps drivers to interact with the vehicle in a less distracting way, pushing the user experience to the next level.

Conclusion

The HMI revolution in vehicles was started by replacing buttons with dashboard screens. Then voice commands were incorporated, and vehicles began talking to their drivers. However, the human-machine interface goes beyond the screens. Though the industry is still years away from fully autonomous vehicles as autonomy increases, the importance of driver’s attention will decrease, and manufacturers have to shift their focus on enabling communication between the owner, the passengers, and the vehicle. Automotive technology companies have started working on this aspect and are developing solutions for a comfortable journey for everyone in the car and not only the driver. Automated vehicles are the future of driving, and HMI is here to enable it. (MT)

NB: Rosemary Joshy is the Head of Engineering, Human Machine Interface business unit, Continental Automotive India. Views expressed are personal.

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Marquardt, a supplier of mechatronic systems, has launched a concept vehicle, ‘The Centum’, to demonstrate the integration of functional controls into automotive surfaces. The project involved a collaboration with E Ink and Covestro to develop a door interior panel that embeds a responsive display within synthetic materials.

The project aimed to maintain the tactile properties of polyurethane (PU)-coated textiles while enabling a colour-changing display to remain invisible until activated. This supports industry trends toward backlit surfaces and integrated control elements.

The display technology uses E Ink, which provides a low-energy, durable electronic paper display designed for automotive environments. For coating, Covestro has developed a transparent film using INSQIN waterborne PU technology. The coating uses Impranil DLC-F, a waterborne polyurethane dispersion used in automotive topcoats.

The resulting material retains the texture of standard automotive textiles while allowing the underlying display colors to remain visible through the coating.

Felix Hake, Head of Innovation, Marquardt, said, “With The Centum, we wanted to demonstrate how intelligent functions can be integrated into interior surfaces without compromising design or quality. Working with E Ink and Covestro allowed us to create a material solution that combines a premium tactile experience with responsive visual effects.”

Dr Torsten Pohl, Global Head of Textile Coatings, Covestro, added, “This project highlights the versatility of INSQIN PU technology and Impranil DLC-F. By developing a transparent, automotive-grade PU coated synthetic compatible with E Ink displays, we were able to support Marquardt in integrating dynamic functionality into familiar surface materials.”

Pete Valianatos, Senior Director, E Ink, said, “Our e-paper display technology is designed to deliver dynamic visual experiences with low power consumption, while maintaining the robustness required for demanding applications. Collaborating with Marquardt and Covestro has enabled us to demonstrate how E Ink displays can be integrated behind coated interior surfaces, allowing automotive designers to introduce adaptive colour features without changing the established look and feel of premium materials.

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Yazaki Innovations Inc (YII), the technology subsidiary of Yazaki Corporation, has announced the appointment of Manish Mehta as its new CEO and President.

Mehta has been a long-time associate of Yazaki Corporation and has spent over two and half decades with the organisation. He had joined the company as an Engineer Manager in 2001, and grew to the ranks of Vice-President Corporate Planning and Strategy in 2021.

He joined the company’s board of directors in 2023, and is now responsible for leading YII, which focusses on the integration of the parent company’s global product portfolio, manufacturing assets and product development with an approach to innovation.

The subsidiary is tasked with developing technologies across several industrial and transport segments. Its remit includes the engineering and development of solutions for the following areas:

• Mobility: Electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, and Electric Vertical Take-off & Landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
• Industrial & Infrastructure: Aerospace, construction and agriculture equipment and PreFab Home Wiring.
• Specialised Engineering: Off-road and specialty vehicles, alongside advanced manufacturing processes.

The organisation aims to combine Yazaki Corporation’s business assets with a methodology designed to address trending technologies in these sectors.

"I am pleased to announce my new role as CEO & President of Yazaki Innovations Inc (YII). Yazaki Innovations is the disruptive technology subsidiary of Yazaki Corporation, integrating the best attributes and strengths of the company’s global product portfolio, product development, manufacturing, and business assets with a quick, agile approach to innovation. This is an exciting opportunity, and I look forward to collaborating with internal and external partners to contribute to the future growth of Yazaki," said Mehta.

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TSUYO Manufacturing Pvt Ltd has appointed Naveen Kumar Amar as Senior Vice President of Finance, effective 1 April 2026. Recognised as a global finance power leader, Amar brings over 20 years of expertise in financial strategy, corporate governance and operational efficiency within capital-intensive industries. His arrival marks a strategic move as the company accelerates growth in the EV powertrain sector.

Before joining TSUYO, Amar was CFO at SpiceXpress, where he led financial restructuring, cost optimisation and drove digitisation projects. He also managed international and domestic fundraising across equity and debt. At TSUYO, he will oversee financial planning, capital allocation, and governance as the company scales manufacturing and deepens EV powertrain investments.

The company recently secured Single Window Clearance from Karnataka Government for a proposed 20-acre EV Powertrain Campus in the Dharwad–Hubli region, a hub for design, testing and production. Last month, TSUYO launched next generation electric motor technologies for India’s light commercial vehicle market, emphasising modular design, deep engineering and Make in India innovation.

The leadership team welcomed Amar, stating his appointment strengthens alignment of capital strategy with long term objectives. TSUYO is also investing in advanced manufacturing infrastructure and localisation of key EV components to reduce import reliance and bolster the domestic EV ecosystem.

Amar said, “I am excited to join Tsuyo at a crucial moment in its growth journey, as the company scales its manufacturing capabilities and strengthens its position in India’s evolving electric mobility ecosystem. With experience across diverse, capital-intensive sectors, I see immense opportunity in building a financially disciplined, execution-focused organisation that can sustain high growth over the long term. The company’s focus on the convergence of deep technology, localisation and large-scale manufacturing presents a unique platform for creating enduring value. I look forward to partnering with the leadership team to enable Tsuyo’s ambition of becoming a globally acclaimed EV powertrain company."

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German automotive luxury brand Audi has launched the new RS 5, featuring a high-performance plug-in hybrid system and a rear transaxle equipped with electromechanical torque vectoring. Marketed as quattro with Dynamic Torque Control, this system manages transverse torque distribution between the rear wheels within 15 milliseconds.

The system enables torque shifts between the rear wheels regardless of the power applied. Unlike mechanical equivalents, it operates during throttle application, off-throttle states and under braking.

It features a High-Voltage Actuator that uses a water-cooled permanent-magnet 400-volt electric motor providing 8 kW and 40 Nm of output. Overdrive Gears components use actuator torque to transfer differences of up to 2,000 Nm to the driveshafts.

The differential consists of a conventional unit with a low lock percentage that distributes applied torque to the left and right shafts.

The technology is designed to reduce understeer and oversteer by directing torque to the wheel with the most grip. If the vehicle begins to oversteer in a bend, the system increases torque at the inside wheel to provide stability. Conversely, it reduces torque at the inner wheel to prevent understeer, redirecting power to the outer wheel for traction.

Control is centralised via the HCP1 (High-Performance Computing Platform), which harmonises driver inputs with environmental data. This platform interprets steering intentions to provide unfiltered transfer to the wheels.

• Electromechanical torque vectoring at the rear axle works in conjunction with front-axle supports:
• Electronic Differential Lock: Enhances front-axle traction via the brakes.
• Brake Torque Vectoring: Provides additional front-end assistance.
• Adaptive Shock Absorbers: The twin-valve units are calibrated with the rear transaxle to improve throttle response and corner entry.

The system allows for customisable driving characteristics through various drive select modes, ranging from a balanced setup to a rear-biased configuration. Audi states the ‘fixed coupling’ of this electromechanical solution ensures torque distribution remains independent of drive torque, a distinction from clutch-based torque splitters.

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