What is an infotainment system?
31 March 2026
Technological advances have rendered older in-car entertainment systems effectively obsolete. Now, carmakers combine entertainment and information as a central point of interior design. Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the rise of the infotainment system.
The rapid development of technology has replaced in-vehicle cassette and CD players with new systems. While music streaming meant losing bulky radio units, the need to display more driver information required bigger screens.
By combining information and entertainment, the infotainment system has been a step forward for interior vehicle design and functionality. These systems are now a staple of modern cars, but some developments have been a cause for concern.
Growth of the infotainment system
With the development of touchscreen technology, integrating displays into vehicles for data and control access is a logical step. These screens provide more than just music playback. They also offer access to a wide range of systems.
These displays can provide navigation, views from external-facing cameras, as well as battery charge and health in electric vehicles (EVs). Many also feature Bluetooth connection for calls and smartphone integration. This allows users to bring their own music, apps and personal settings into the car.
Meanwhile, the infotainment system can act as a control location for certain vehicle functions. Menus and sub-menus provide detailed access to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), vehicle customisation, driver profiles, and more.
Some carmakers have even opted to reduce or remove physical buttons for certain systems. This produces a cleaner and sleeker interior design, but can also lead to potential safety issues.
Are screens a distraction?
The ability of an infotainment system to house various vehicle controls can free up space inside a car. However, with some controls buried in sub-menus, out of easy reach of the driver, there are concerns around distraction.
Climate control, driving profiles, heated seats, and regenerative braking levels in EVs can be reduced from physical to digital buttons. But searching for these settings on a touchscreen can mean less focus on the road.
Research published by TRL, on behalf of safety charity IAM Roadsmart in 2020, highlighted these concerns. Findings showed that driving performance was more negatively impacted when using touch controls compared with voice control.
Study participants were able to keep their eyes on the road more when using voice control than touch control. They were also more likely to identify stimuli that required attention. Despite this, most participants in the study reported using touch rather than voice control in their real-world driving.
Ensuring infotainment system safety
The concerns over driver distraction have led to Euro NCAP making a button-based request of carmakers for 2026. The safety body is asking manufacturers to either offer physical controls or dedicate a fixed portion of the cabin display to primary driving functions. This includes the horn, indicators, hazard lights, windscreen wipers and headlights.
So, the road ahead looks to be a matter of balance when it comes to infotainment systems. The technology will still need to support an increasing number of vehicle capabilities while also meeting higher consumer expectations. However, this will need to be levelled with control accessibility and driver attention.
