Latest in Car Tech and Infotainment

About Car Tech and Infotainment

The modern dashboard is a battleground. Once cars had a radio, a few knobs and maybe a cassette deck; now they have large touchscreens, voice assistants, navigation, apps and connected services, and the software behind them shapes how drivers feel about the whole vehicle. Automakers see the cabin as a source of brand identity and future revenue, while technology giants such as Apple and Google want their systems to be the interface drivers use every day.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, introduced in the mid-2010s, quickly became features many buyers insist on, mirroring familiar phone apps on the car's screen. Some automakers have pushed back, with General Motors deciding to drop phone mirroring from its new EVs in favor of its own Google-based system. At the same time, the idea of the software-defined vehicle has taken hold, with over-the-air updates able to add features, fix bugs and even improve performance after purchase. Critics question the touchscreen takeover, arguing physical buttons are safer and easier to use.

This page follows car technology and infotainment: new dashboard systems, CarPlay and Android Auto developments, over-the-air updates, connected services and subscriptions, telematics, cybersecurity and the debates over data privacy and driver distraction. It covers both the automakers building their own software and the tech companies supplying it. For buyers, it is a guide to the features that increasingly define the experience of driving. A clumsy screen can sour a good car, and a great one can sell an ordinary car.