Unity is working with Toyota on the next-gen human machine interface for cars

Game engines in cars are a thing, and so Unity was chosen by Toyota Motor to help it deliver a graphical user interface for Toyota’s next human-machine interface for cars.

Toyota’s selection of Unity underscores the transformative potential of Unity’s real-time technology, refined through years of widespread use in the gaming industry across numerous platforms, the companies said.

This partnership seamlessly brings Unity’s technology into Toyota’s HMI development pipeline, improving efficiency across all stages of design and engineering by minimizing rework, optimizing development processes, streamlining data management, and delivering a stable, high-performance GUI experience to consumers.

Takashi Imai, chief project leader of the digital software development center at Toyota Motor, said in a statement, “At Toyota, we are developing in-house ‘digital cockpits’ to connect drivers, vehicles, and society as part of our efforts to create innovative user experiences.”

Imai added, “Hundreds of software engineers are involved in developing instrument clusters, infotainment systems, and other components. Recently, the use of advanced 3D graphics has become commonplace in the automotive industry. However, this technology requires specialized skills that can make it difficult for newer engineers. That’s where Unity has brought real innovation.”

And Imai said, “I’m pleased to see our engineers so enthusiastic, and it’s wonderful that they can now create value in such a short amount of time. In addition, the efficiency of our development has improved dramatically, freeing us to devote more time to providing even more value to our customers. Moving forward, we will continue collaborating with Unity to deliver even more compelling, innovative products.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Toyota Motor Corporation and their team of world-renowned engineers to bring Unity’s real-time 3D capabilities to the forefront of next-generation HMI experiences,” said Alex Blum, COO of Unity, in a statement. “As consumer expectations continue to evolve, Unity and Toyota can deliver seamless, interactive, cutting-edge solutions for drivers.”