HARMAN’s latest showcase at CES 2025 ignited fresh excitement around in-cabin automotive technology.
The company, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, pushes beyond traditional vehicle features to create cars that genuinely care about passengers’ well-being, preferences, and evolving needs.
Automotive technology continually transforms. Consumers now demand experiences that mirror their favorite smart devices.
HARMAN responds with new releases that weave empathy and contextual awareness directly into vehicles.
Engineers and designers collaborated to build an immersive ecosystem. They focused on comfort, safety, and intuitive engagement.
Buyers already use smartphones and home assistants to manage schedules, track well-being, and listen to personalized music. HARMAN extends that approach to the car interior, which becomes a space that adapts to moods, road conditions, and individual driving habits.
Expect quick software updates and flexible hardware configurations. HARMAN designed modular components to accelerate product releases, allowing automakers to incorporate emerging features without major vehicle redesigns.
These innovations do not arrive as isolated products. They work together to form a system of interconnected modules. That system shapes driving experiences tailored to each user, day or night.
Drivers want more than flashy dashboards or robust audio systems. They want solutions that sense when drowsiness strikes and real-time route adjustments, especially during adverse weather or traffic congestion.
HARMAN addresses those demands through domain controllers, advanced AI, and specialized sensors. It aims to make cars safer, more entertaining, and seamlessly connected.
Its new offerings deliver those perks across multiple in-cabin touchpoints.
This holistic vision came to life in Las Vegas. The CES stage highlighted HARMAN’s thorough expertise in automotive hardware and software.
Luna and the Ready Engage Ecosystem
HARMAN’s spotlight introduction is Luna, an AI avatar housed within Ready Engage. Luna responds to voice commands and provides visual feedback, which helps people feel at ease when interacting with an onboard system.
Luna leverages data from the car’s sensors. It understands drivers’ preferences for seat position, temperature, and favorite music and provides real-time suggestions, reminders, or route guidance.
Luna also integrates with QVUE, an augmented-reality windshield display. QVUE projects advanced visual overlays, such as transparent hood views or dynamic street directions, so drivers see a clear path forward, even in complex environments.
Ready Engage streamlines these interactions. It captures, processes, and delivers relevant insights quickly. That speed reduces driver distraction and fosters a sense of companionship during long rides.
HARMAN designed Luna to evolve. The avatar learns through each journey. It refines its recommendations as it gathers more data from the driver’s daily commute or family trips.
This AI-based personalization extends beyond simple voice activation. Luna appears on digital screens with facial expressions that match its tone. Drivers sense a friendly presence, similar to conversing with a real companion.
Meanwhile, Ready Engage ties in with HARMAN’s Ready Upgrade cockpit domain controllers.
These controllers perform complex tasks with minimal latency, giving automakers a shortcut to integrating significant features like Luna or QVUE without rebuilding entire vehicle architectures.
Developers also utilize HARMAN’s central compute unit (CCU) platforms. They reduce hardware demands and improve responsiveness.
Engineers from HARMAN and HL Klemove collaborate to merge cockpit intelligence with ADAS functionalities.
Their combined setup assists with Level 2 driving stacks. It includes advanced sensor arrays and software logic for lane centering or adaptive cruise control tasks.
Driving New Levels of Safety and Connectivity
HARMAN steps beyond entertainment to incorporate genuine driver care. Ready Care, a monitoring tool, uses AI and neuroscience to analyze driver states.
It checks mental load, breathing, and eye focus to detect fatigue or distraction.
Ready Care then intervenes with gentle corrections. It may adjust seat vibration levels, play refreshing audio cues, or highlight potential hazards. These responses keep drivers engaged without overwhelming them.
In parallel, Ready Aware delivers situational intelligence. This V2N (vehicle-to-network) product uses machine learning to anticipate weather issues or sudden lane closures.
Drivers receive early warnings to help them maneuver more confidently.
Passengers also gain peace of mind with Ready Display, which harnesses Samsung Neo QLED technology. The display remains bright in broad daylight and crisp at night, allowing drivers to avoid glare while accessing crucial details on speed, directions, or incoming notifications.
Connectivity remains a priority. HARMAN’s Ready Connect suite of telematics control units upgrades from 4G to 5G and eventually to satellite communication.
Automakers avoid multiple hardware replacements since this TCU design supports modular updates.
HARMAN reaches a milestone by integrating satellite connectivity directly into the telematics control unit. This approach ensures coverage in remote areas or during natural disasters, and drivers stay connected to navigation services and infotainment everywhere.
This connectivity also enhances software updates. Cars quickly receive new features over the air. Automakers capitalize on recurring revenue models by offering subscription-based functions that address varying consumer needs.
HARMAN’s Ready Link Marketplace further enhances this model. Automakers can choose from over 150 apps, including predictive adaptive cruise control and real-time language translation.
Each addition personalizes the journey and maintains novelty over the vehicle’s lifespan.
HARMAN’s Automotive Engineering Services (AES) helps automakers integrate these solutions efficiently. AES addresses potential hurdles and reduces time-consuming guesswork, allowing carmakers to launch advanced features faster and more smoothly.
HARMAN’s multifaceted approach serves a broad audience. Personalized cockpit experiences benefit families, solo commuters, and ride-sharing fleets.
When advanced automotive technology and empathetic design work together, everyone wins. HARMAN emphasizes that synergy by putting occupant well-being at the center.
These vehicles respond to drivers’ moods, habits, and daily challenges.
Car shoppers already prioritize safety, cost, and brand reputation. Now, they also consider a vehicle’s digital features and connectivity. HARMAN’s new lineup addresses these modern demands head-on.
Its suite of empathetic, contextual products reveals how tomorrow’s cars will think and adapt. They deliver real-time intelligence for safer, more engaging trips and unlock flexible business models that help automakers remain profitable.
Drivers enjoy these benefits without grappling with clunky interfaces. They speak a command, glance at a HUD, or rely on Luna’s cues. The experience feels simple, sophisticated, and organic.
HARMAN’s grand unveiling at CES 2025 underscores the company’s long-running commitment to in-cabin innovation. The firm believes that technology should enhance human comfort while reducing complexity.
This evolving wave of automotive intelligence solidifies cars as interactive environments. They grow with each passenger, anticipate road challenges, and maintain strong connectivity.
The future of driving goes far beyond transportation.
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About the author
Christopher Brooks is a computer and information researcher with a passion for advancing digital technologies. He holds a Master's Degree in Computer Science from MIT and has been applying his knowledge to further the fields of cyber security, consumer electronics, artificial intelligence, data science, and more. In his free time, Christopher enjoys biking and hiking.
