November 5th, 2025
As the automotive industry accelerates toward a future defined by autonomy, the importance of Human-Machine Interface (HMI) is coming into sharper focus. Once considered a collection of knobs, buttons, and screens, HMI now stands at the intersection of safety, brand identity, and user experience. As driving responsibilities gradually shift from human operators to intelligent systems, the fundamental purpose of in-vehicle interfaces must evolve. In an autonomous world, vehicles will no longer just be driven—they will be inhabited.
The current state of HMI reflects such a period of transition. Touchscreens have become dominant, spurred by consumer familiarity with smartphones and the promise of dynamic software updates. Integrations like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and proprietary systems such as Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX offer customization and connectivity at levels previously unimaginable. Yet they also introduce complexity. Many features once handled by simple physical controls are now buried within multi-layered menus, increasing cognitive load and often frustrating users. In some cases, manufacturers have had to walk back decisions, reintroducing physical buttons in response to customer dissatisfaction and safety concerns.
While these current HMI platforms support today’s partially automated vehicles, they are still fundamentally built for human drivers. SAE Level 2 systems like Tesla Autopilot or GM Super Cruise require the driver to remain attentive at all times. The HMI’s role in these vehicles is to supplement human oversight—not replace it. However, as the industry moves toward Level 3 conditional automation and beyond, the relationship between occupants and the machine will shift dramatically. When the system, not the human, assumes responsibility for driving, the HMI need no longer be centered around controls. It can become a facilitator of experience.
Autonomous driving introduces a fundamental reimagining of how people interact with vehicles. In this new context, the driver becomes a passenger—free to engage in entertainment, productivity, communication, or even rest. As a result, the interface must adapt from a utilitarian dashboard to a personalized digital companion. This transformation requires a deeper integration of artificial intelligence, context awareness, and seamless multimodal interaction. Interfaces will need to deliver not only content, but confidence—clearly communicating what the vehicle is doing, why, and what comes next, all while responding gracefully to voice, gesture, or ambient cues.
Automakers are already beginning to experiment with features that hint at this future. BMW’s Gesture Control, though originally designed for volume and call handling, could readily evolve into a primary interaction method when touch access is no longer practical. Tesla’s in-car gaming and streaming suite, currently gated for use while charging or parked, is architecturally positioned for in-motion deployment once safety regulations allow. Mercedes-Benz’s recent integration of Microsoft Teams—even blocking video for the driver seat—signals a pathway toward full in-vehicle collaboration spaces when autonomy matures.
This shift also comes with new pressures. Users will expect their vehicles to offer the same level of fluidity and personalization they experience on mobile platforms. Some may even prefer to bypass OEM systems entirely in favor of their smartphones. The rapid rise of Android Automotive, Google Built-in, and Apple CarPlay Ultra suggests that control over the HMI experience is becoming a competitive battleground—not just between automakers, but between ecosystems. At the same time, fleet-based autonomous mobility services, like those from Waymo or Cruise, will define expectations for HMI in shared environments. These systems must balance individual customization with operational consistency, security, and maintainability across thousands of vehicles.
Technologically, many of the building blocks for this future already exist. The challenge lies in integrating them coherently and responsibly. Interfaces must scale with software updates, comply with evolving safety and cybersecurity standards, and be intuitive enough to serve users who range from tech-savvy early adopters to aging populations or people with limited mobility. The design challenge is not just one of aesthetics or novelty—it is a systems-level effort requiring input from UX designers, engineers, cognitive scientists, regulators, and commercial strategists alike.
The opportunity is enormous. In a world where vehicles are defined more by their software and experience than their horsepower, HMI becomes a gateway to loyalty, differentiation, and lasting value. Those who get it right won’t just win the battle for user attention, they’ll define the next era of automotive experience.
We invite you to join our upcoming Webinar via Zoom on Thursday, November 13, from 12 to 1 PM Eastern with guest panelist Sean Jamal Berkeley of Toptal, where we’ll explore these challenges and their real-world implications in depth.
Register via Zoom to join us on Thursday, November 13th at noon here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Bdc7zseHTjy_QIsnptuo9g
And click attend on the event page on LinkedIn to get notifications: https://www.linkedin.com/events/automotivehmiinanautonomousworl7386456735739465728/
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