InCabin China 2025
China isn’t just iterating on the in‑cabin experience—it’s redefining it. This year’s InCabin China highlighted how quickly OEMs and suppliers are converging safety, AI, and UX into products that feel consumer‑grade, context‑aware and priced to scale. The result is a market that normalises features Western drivers often only see in concept videos.
Written by:
Jenny Campbell B. Rust
Head of Content
Sense Media
1) China Sets the Pace: Price Down, Tech Up
The defining characteristic of China’s in‑cabin progress is its software‑first mindset, carried over from consumer electronics. B2C heavyweights such as Huawei and Xiaomi are applying their deep understanding of user behaviour to automotive, translating daily digital habits into in‑car patterns: seamless multi‑screen flows, voice + vision fusion, and assistants that actually understand context rather than simply react to commands.
China’s automotive ecosystem is evolving alongside internet culture, turning cars into lifestyle devices rather than mere transport. This shift is driven by software-first thinking and a user base that grew up with mobile internet, expecting seamless digital experiences everywhere. AI-native design is central to this transformation, enabling cabins that feel intuitive and adaptive rather than gimmicky. Features such as multimodal interfaces, context-aware assistance, and personalised interaction are no longer aspirational—they are becoming standard expectations at accessible price points.
2) DMS Is Now Critical
Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) have moved from optional to mandatory under tightening Chinese regulations. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), working alongside the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), now requires effective driver monitoring for Level 2+ and Level 3 systems, including hands-on detection, clear status displays, and traceable OTA updates.
OEMs aren’t stopping at compliance—they’re leveraging DMS for added value: vital signs monitoring, face recognition for security and personalisation, and seamless UX integration for takeover readiness. As L2++ and L3 systems proliferate, handover design becomes the psychological linchpin of adoption. Phantom braking erodes trust; lane elasticity and transparent HMI build it. Treating DMS and UX as co-equal ADAS sensors is now best practice.
3) The SDV Is Already Dead
China has already moved beyond the era of Software-Defined Vehicles, leaving competitors in the dust. The new paradigm is AI-Defined Vehicles—where intelligence is the architectural core rather than an add-on. From empathetic, context-aware assistants to multimodal interaction and emotional engines, personalisation and gamification are now central to differentiation. As Jared Yang, Director of Technology Brand and Planning at Great Wall Motors put it in his Keynote: “AI isn’t an add-on—it’s the operating system for mobility.”
This shift is visible in the way cabins are designed to anticipate user needs: gesture-based controls, immersive audio experiences, and conversational AI that can troubleshoot, assist, and even provide comfort in real time. These developments reflect a broader trend—cars are evolving from mechanical transport to intelligent companions, deeply integrated into digital lifestyles.
In Summary
China’s in-cabin evolution is not just about lowering costs or meeting regulations—it’s about creating intelligent, human-centric experiences. The software-first approach sets the foundation, while DMS ensures safety by monitoring driver behaviour and attention, making sure eyes stay on the road. AI then elevates this further, turning interaction into anticipation. Consider systems that track a driver’s gaze and combine it with audio input. Imagine this scenario, as demonstrated by Dr. Youngkyung Park, Executive Director of ADAS & Vehicle Intelligence Development at LG Electronics, in his presentation Beyond NCAP: Disruptive In-Cabin Sensing for Advanced Safety and User Experience, when a driver asks, “What’s that?”, the vehicle infers what they’re looking at and responds intelligently, perhaps identifying a landmark and giving historical background. Or take NOMI, NIO’s intelligent companion who sits atop the dashboard, and turns to face the person speaking before replying or actioning their request, for example “play my favourite song”. This convergence of perception, context, and conversation illustrates the future—cabins that are not only connected but truly aware, blending safety, convenience, and personalisation into a seamless experience.
Interested in exterior sensing technology?
With a pass to InCabin USA, you’ll also get full access to our co-located sister event, AutoSens. Keep up to date with the event here: AutoSens USA 2026>>
