Solu M said on Thursday it has entered the Hyundai and Kia supply chain by supplying its in-vehicle electronic paper display device, Smart Info Panel, to mobility company AutoN. The Smart Info Panel will be applied first to Kia's next-generation PBV (purpose-built vehicle) model PV5. It is expected to later expand to Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brand vehicles equipped with Hyundai Motor Group's in-vehicle infotainment system Pleos Connect.

The Smart Info Panel is a vehicle-only device developed based on Solu M's outdoor electronic shelf label (ESL) product line, the Newton Pro Extreme 4.2 platform. It features a 4.2-inch electronic paper (EPD) display, offering visibility close to printed paper even in direct sunlight. Because electronic paper uses little power, it can remain on display at all times. It was designed with strengthened durability and stability for vehicle environments.

Using low-power Bluetooth (BLE)-based wireless communication, it links with AutoN's in-vehicle integrated control application, Cardle. Users can wirelessly update images or information through a dedicated app, allowing them to change displayed content depending on vehicle use. The Cardle app is listed on Hyundai Motor Group's in-vehicle software ecosystem, the Pleos App Market.

Solu M supplies ESL products to more than 60 countries, focusing on the global distribution and retail market. The Smart Info Panel supply is an example of Solu M expanding its electronic paper device technology and wireless platform capabilities into mobility environments, the company said.

A Solu M official said, "The Smart Info Panel is the first application case that reinterprets a proven electronic paper hardware platform to fit the vehicle environment." The official added, "We plan to continue expanding the use of electronic paper devices in mobility environments through linkage with the Pleos Connect-based vehicle software ecosystem."