ThunderSoft has been honored with the prestigious 2026 iF Design Award in the User Experience (UX) – Vehicles & Mobility category for its AquaDrive AIOS 1.0 HMI platform, developed using the Kanzi 3D engine. The recognition highlights ThunderSoft’s world-class expertise in automotive HMI design and marks an important milestone in the evolution of the company’s AIOS ecosystem, further strengthening its leadership in intelligent mobility and digital cockpit innovation.

A Globally Recognized Benchmark for Design Excellence

The iF Design Award, established in 1954, is widely regarded as one of the most influential and credible design competitions worldwide. Each year, an independent jury of international design experts conducts a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process, assessing entries across criteria such as innovation, functionality, aesthetics, and user experience.

For the 2026 edition, more than 10,000 entries from leading global brands and designers were submitted. AquaDrive AIOS 1.0’s selection for the award underscores the platform’s exceptional design and technological innovation in next-generation automotive user experiences.

Defining the Future of In-Vehicle User Experience

AquaDrive AIOS 1.0 introduces a new generation of in-vehicle interaction built on the innovative and production-proven Kanzi architecture. The platform delivers:

• Seamless digital cockpit experiences with smooth visual continuity
• Scalable, production-ready system architecture for automotive deployment
• Advanced UX frameworks powered by AquaDrive AIOS
• Modern design language pushing the boundaries of intelligent mobility

Key technical highlights recognized in the award include:

Continuous Scene Transition Framework A “one-take” visual transition system enables smooth, natural switching between cockpit interfaces—including 3D desktop, navigation, surround view (SR), and driving modes. This approach ensures visual consistency across scenarios, creating a more immersive and refined user experience.

8K Real-Time Rendering Capability Powered by the Kanzi graphics engine, AquaDrive AIOS 1.0 delivers ultra-high-resolution real-time rendering for next-generation cockpit displays. Fine interface details and dynamic lighting effects remain crisp and fluid even on 8K displays, meeting the growing demand for premium in-vehicle visual fidelity.

Multi-Screen Adaptive UI Scaling The platform intelligently adapts layouts, fonts, controls, and interaction logic across multiple cockpit displays—including instrument clusters, center infotainment, passenger screens, and rear-seat displays. A single design framework enables consistent user experiences across different screen sizes while improving development efficiency.

Advancing AIOS HMI Innovation for the AI Cockpit

Winning the iF Design Award 2026 highlights ThunderSoft’s continued leadership in automotive user experience innovation. The Kanzi team combines deep technical expertise with a strong focus on design and engineering excellence, continually expanding the boundaries of automotive HMI and setting new industry benchmarks.

Looking ahead, the AquaDrive AIOS series will be showcased at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show in April, where ThunderSoft will unveil additional innovations shaping the future of AI-powered cockpit experiences.