The automotive industry has stalled: Long development cycles and complex processes are slowing down especially software innovation. Rigid structures prevent fast developments and flexible adaptation. The driver of tomorrow doesn’t primarily want to own, but they want to experience. The TikTok generation expects easy-to-use, smart systems tailored to their needs. Connected, context-aware HMIs that anticipate and support those needs will be a decisive factor for brand loyalty and brand experience.
For the HMI systems of tomorrow, this means: less complexity, higher user experience, intuitive operation and above all, simplified development with significantly shorter cycles. It’s about full multimodality, engaging all five human senses. HMI doesn’t just mean “interface”. It means “interaction.” The trend is moving toward fewer, even no screens, towards smart surfaces, next-gen head-up displays, and intelligent HMI surfaces that may require no physical touch.
To achieve this, HMI development must become faster, more integrated, and more user-centric, moving away from a screen-focused approach toward seamless interaction between human and machine. The goal is an experience where interaction is so natural and context-driven that screens may no longer be needed at all.
Incari’s CPO Alexander Grasse joined the “Car Design News” couch at the Autodesk Automotive Innovation Forum 2025. In the interview, he explains why the future of HMI goes beyond screens and how Incari Studio enables seamless, next-generation user experiences. Watch the video here.
