LG Electronics has secured the 2026 SDV Innovator Awards for the second consecutive year, as announced by the global automotive media outlet MotorTrend on Wednesday.
The MotorTrend SDV Innovator Awards, now in its fourth year, recognizes individuals and technologies driving innovation in Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs). Kim Kyung-rak, Display Development Leader at LG Electronics’ Vehicle Solution (VS) Division, was honored in the Pioneer category for transforming in-vehicle displays from simple visual interfaces into core SDV components.
LG Electronics’ award-winning innovation centers on their Shy Tech concept, implemented through a bendable moving display. This technology allows the screen to fold away when not in use and unfold into a large display when needed, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality in vehicle interiors. The system is slated for integration into upcoming premium vehicle models.
The company continues to push boundaries in next-gen automotive display technology. Standout innovations include the Wide Hover Screen, which projects high-brightness images onto the windshield without a black backing, and the Ultra-Light Augmented Reality Head-Up Display (AR-HUD), featuring gaze-based focus adjustment.
In the previous year, Eun Suk-hyun, head of the VS Division, was recognized in the Leader category for his contributions to SDV industry trends. LG Electronics aims to maintain its competitive edge as the industry evolves from SDVs to AI-Defined Vehicles (AIDVs).
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, LG Electronics showcased cutting-edge AIDV technologies. These included a display solution utilizing transparent organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology to expand the interface across the driver’s area, a vision AI system providing safety and convenience information based on driver gaze, and an AI-curated rear-seat entertainment package. The company also introduced its AI Cabin Platform, an on-device AI solution for automakers.
A key strategy in LG’s SDV transition is the integrated LG αWare solution. This comprehensive platform covers crucial SDV capabilities such as in-vehicle infotainment, displays, telematics, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), comprising Playware, Metaware, and Visionware components.
LG Electronics is also breaking new ground by integrating its vehicle webOS content platform into commercial electric vehicles, furthering its vision of transforming vehicles into mobile living spaces.
Eun, head of LG Electronics’ VS Division, stated that its goal is to leverage real-time environmental and passenger data analysis to deliver safer, more convenient mobility experiences, spearheading the transition from SDVs to AIDVs.