The Rise of Software-Defined Automotive Infotainment Systems: CES 2025 Sets the Stage

Increasing demand for seamless, immersive experiences - both audio performance and visual integration - have become paramount for manufacturers. The competition is fierce, and the need for advanced audio and infotainment technologies has never been greater. Let’s review a few of the innovations we observed during the show in Vegas.

By
Mavsotech
,
on
January 24, 2025

At CES 2025, the automotive industry witnessed a pivotal shift as major players showcased ground-breaking innovations in automotive infotainment and audio systems. With the increasing demand for seamless, immersive experiences, both audio performance and visual integration have become paramount for manufacturers. The competition is fierce, and the need for advanced audio and infotainment technologies has never been greater. Let’s review a few of the innovations we observed during the show in Vegas.

Xperi announced that DTS AutoStage has now shipped in 10 million vehicles. And as the battle for the dashboard continues, Xperi’s research points to car buyers looking for next-gen entertainment. DTS AutoStage gives OEMs the opportunity to own the customer experience, access data and deliver a personalized experience. With HD Radio as the initial offering and now DTS AutoStage, Xperi showcased the new DTS AutoStage Video Service powered by its own TiVotm platform for the ultimate in-car entertainment streaming video entertainment experience at CES. Furthermore, it announced new IMAX Enhanced content support within the car utilizing DTS:X for an immersive entertainment experience. (XPERI)

Honda, on the other hand, introduced plans for advanced intelligent vehicle technology, including a speech response feature integrated into the car. This symbolized a new era of human-centric vehicle innovation, with an emphasis on delivering an interactive and immersive in-car experience that integrates both entertainment and practical functionality (Wired).

Automakers also showcased cutting-edge in-cabin experiences at CES 2025, with a focus on comfort and safety. Full-windshield holographic technology projecting driving information and entertainment was one of the highlights, demonstrating how the fusion of visual and audio innovation can elevate the driving experience (AP News).

In the audio space, Dolby spotlighted its latest innovations, including an exclusive first look at new vehicles supporting Dolby Atmos, featuring the great sounding new EV, the 2025 Cadillac OPTIQ with 19-speaker AKG audio system. The world’s first car to support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos was also revealed inside Li Auto’s Li MEGA, offering a next-level entertainment experience that integrates immersive audio and exceptional visual experiences for both drivers and passengers (PR Newswire).

Corning also impressed with its On-Demand Automotive Infotainment Center, which won the 2025 Best of Innovation award. This platform offers advanced modularity and adaptability, providing automakers with a customizable system that meets the unique demands of their brands and audio system requirements (CES Tech).

HARMAN introduced intelligent car solutions at CES 2025, aiming to make the vision of an empathetic car—a vehicle that understands commands, needs, and adapts to preferences—a reality. These technologies focus on creating intuitive, personalized audio experiences that enhance driver and passenger satisfaction (IoT Insider).

Pioneer showcased its 4-channel in-vehicle spatial audio system, designed to offer an after-market in-dash immersive audio experience for drivers and passengers for Apple CarPlay powered by Dolby Atmos. This system takes a step forward in delivering a spatial audio, upgrade path to Dolby Atmos, making the in-car experience more dynamic and engaging with a simplified amplifier/speaker requirement.  (Global Pioneer).

SiriusXM, in collaboration with Dolby, introduced advancements in in-car entertainment, enhancing the audio experience for drivers and passengers. The synergy between SiriusXM’s content and Dolby’s technologies provides a premium audio experience, whether it’s for music, podcasts, or other forms of entertainment (CES Tech).

Dirac, in collaboration with Denon and Audio Foundry, presented next-generation automotive audio innovations that deliver dynamic, high-fidelity sound for an enhanced driving experience. The partnership reflects the ongoing trend toward integrating premium audio systems into vehicles, creating a seamless blend of cutting-edge technology and auditory excellence (Dirac).

The overall buzz at CES 2025 was about SDVs (Software-Defined Vehicles). This concept has sparked interest as the automotive world embraces software to create smarter, more connected vehicles. As these SDVs evolve, infotainment and audio systems will be integral in providing real-time, adaptive experiences (Forbes).


Why These Innovations Matter

In a world where audio and infotainment systems are quickly becoming central to the user experience, automotive manufacturers face a clear imperative: they must elevate their game. These CES 2025 innovations highlight how critical it is for the industry to deliver not just functional but exceptional in-car experiences that can compete in a fast-evolving marketplace.

Mavsotech offers the expertise to integrate these advanced audio and infotainment systems, making sure automotive manufacturers stay ahead of the curve. By offering scalable, customizable solutions, Mavsotech helps clients navigate the complexities of modern infotainment while ensuring seamless integration with leading infotainment and audio SoC platforms.


Partnering for Success


The automotive infotainment industry is at a crossroads, driven by the innovations showcased at CES 2025. From immersive audio and personalization to cutting-edge AI and software-defined vehicles, the opportunities are vast, but so are the challenges. Manufacturers must act quickly and strategically to integrate these technologies and provide the immersive audio-visual experiences consumers expect.

Successfully integrating cutting-edge technologies requires more than just in-house development. Partnering with an experienced company like Mavsotech, which possesses deep knowledge in applying best practices for the transition to software-defined vehicles in both the technology and commercial domains, can make all the difference.

From innovation, design, and testing to full integration, Mavsotech has helped with these types of transitions before and offers reliable and comprehensive support to ensure automotive companies can deliver the next-generation in-car audio and infotainment experiences, shortening development cycles and helping OEMs avoid common pitfalls in this type of operation. With expert support from companies like Mavsotech, the road to the future of automotive audio is paved for success.

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