New rules from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) require automakers to reduce the physical controls in cars if they want to receive a five-star safety rating. The changes, which come into effect in January, will lead to less screen technology usage in particular for basic functions like indicators and wipers. While it marks a turning point in the industry after years of touchscreen dominance, that doesn’t mean in-car innovation must stop. Instead, this news challenges car makers to think smarter about the driver experience.
A smarter way to drive
When the industry safety body first announced plans for the new regulations in March last year, we highlighted how voice activation and audio cues could help automakers maintain safety while reducing reliance on physical controls. These features are just the beginning. GM’s upcoming conversational AI (powered by Google Gemini) and Alphabet’s plans for AI-driven in-car experiences through Waymo point to the next step: natural, adaptive interaction in the cabin.
In the not-so-distant future, drivers will talk to their cars as naturally as to another person — asking the vehicle to adjust settings, diagnose issues or plan journeys. AI driven in-car experiences are the future but to deliver this effectively automotive connectivity is critical. The car must always be connected and able to provide reliable, high-speed data, if these advanced AI functions are to deliver enhanced safety and services.
The battle for the cockpit
In a bid to reclaim control of the central infotainment display from smartphone mirroring services, automakers are integrating consumer-facing digital maps with ADAS-grade, centimetre-accurate navigation. This “map convergence” improves real-time hazard detection and automated driving decisions. It’s a win-win for car makers: this marriage of connected car technology with ADAS means they satisfy regulators, enhance safety and reclaim the infotainment ecosystem from Big Tech.
GM’s new centralised computing platform is a great real-world example. Announced earlier this month, it unites propulsion, infotainment and safety systems, delivering 10 times more over-the-air (OTA) updates and 35 times more AI performance. While the software-defined vehicle (SDV) model allows vehicles to continuously learn, update and improve long after they leave the factory, these systems are only as strong as their connectivity layer. Without consistent, high-speed connectivity solutions, advanced features cannot function safely or reliably.
Connectivity: the backbone of the SDV
Seamless connectivity ensures that voice assistants, live mapping and AI-driven insights work everywhere, without dropouts or delays. It’s the backbone that lets automakers deliver these next-gen experiences securely and consistently. Beyond music and navigation, it supports everything from real-time traffic updates, OTA software upgrades to in-car entertainment and remote vehicle monitoring. In addition to this, DriverConnect3 enables car makers to deliver a streamlined, unified in-car experience to their customers. It allows them to control the entire in-car experience — from activation and payments to personalisation — across all models and regions, helping them to monetise the vehicle.
All eyes on the road
The Euro NCAP 2026 safety rules mean the next chapter of in-car experiences isn’t more screen time – it’s a world where conversational AI allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road. With seamless connectivity and a management software-platform that delivers a unified, but still regionally tailored experience, automakers can deliver tactile safety with the digital advances consumers want.
Learn more about how our advanced cloud solutions and unified connectivity management platform will enable AI-driven in-car experiences.
