Skip to main content

EV maker Byton reveals apps that will fill 48 inches of touchscreen real estate

 

Byton is about to win the automotive industry’s touchscreen war by putting a 48-inch unit in the upcoming M-Byte. That’s a lot of real estate to fill, so the Chinese company linked arms with partners from all over the broad technology spectrum to keep passengers connected on the move. It announced the first group of firms it is working with ahead of CES 2020.

Recommended Videos

Fittingly called the Stage, Byton’s 48-inch screen stretches the entire width of the dashboard, so it is in both front passengers’ lines of sight. While the driver gets information about the car and its surroundings, the passenger can watch television shows, movies, and other videos in the ViacomCBS library, via the Access Twine for Car system. This feature (which rivals Tesla’s newly-introduced Theater) embeds titles like Spongebob Squarepants and Terminator in the M-Byte’s dashboard.

AccuWeather integration gives the crossover the ability to provide its passengers with real-time weather updates. This feature goes beyond telling you whether your beach vacation will be rained out. It also chimes in when it detects extreme weather like a blizzard or a thunderstorm on a given route, so the driver can find an alternate path.

The Voice to Actions platform developed by Aiqudo connects the passengers to an array of mobile apps via Bluetooth. If you’re a passenger, for example, you’ll be able to say “I want to watch Sonic the Hedgehog” instead of reaching across the cabin to tap the screen. Aiqudo speaks multiple languages, and it is compatible with thousands of apps.

The M-Byte will exclusively offer an electric powertrain that delivers about 250 miles of driving range. That’s enough for a short road trip, and quick-charging possibilities unlock more travel possibilities. The infotainment system will help adventurers plan their getaway thanks in part to Road Travel, a trip-planning platform used to make hotel and restaurant reservations, and find points of interest around a given destination.

Finally, Xperi will integrate its HD Radio into the M-Byte’s cockpit. It’s packed with over 2,300 individual radio stations, and over 4,000 digital audio services, so you shouldn’t run out of things to listen to.

Byton will announce additional partners in the coming months. It’s forming alliances with big, respected names in the tech world, but it’s also open to working with small, lesser-known companies and individuals. To that end, it launched a developer program at CES 2020 that encourages savvy entrepreneurs to create content for its infotainment system.

Tesla, one of the companies Byton is aiming for, proved there’s a big market for in-car gaming. The M-Byte’s uniquely generous screen dimensions make it better suited to receiving a side-scrolling Mario game than any car we’ve ever seen. Here’s to hoping a developer with a background in video games makes our dream of in-car Mario Bros. a reality.

Ronan Glon
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
You can now lease a Hyundai EV on Amazon—and snag that $7,500 tax credit
amazon autos hyundai evs lease ioniq 6 n line seoul mobility show 2025 mk08

Amazon has changed how we shop for just about everything—from books to furniture to groceries. Now, it’s transforming the way we lease cars. Through Amazon Autos, you can now lease a brand-new Hyundai entirely online—and even better, you’ll qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit if you choose an electric model like the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, or Kona EV.
Here’s why that matters: As of January 2025, Hyundai’s EVs no longer qualify for the tax credit if you buy them outright, due to strict federal rules about battery sourcing and final assembly. But when you lease, the vehicle is technically owned by the leasing company (Hyundai Capital), which allows it to be classified as a “commercial vehicle” under U.S. tax law—making it eligible for the credit. That savings is typically passed on to you in the form of lower lease payments.
With Amazon’s new setup, you can browse Hyundai’s EV inventory, secure financing, trade in your current vehicle, and schedule a pickup—all without leaving the Amazon ecosystem.
It’s available in 68 markets across the U.S., and pricing is fully transparent—no hidden fees or haggling. While Hyundai is so far the only automaker fully participating, more are expected to join over time.
Pioneered by the likes of Tesla, purchasing or leasing vehicles online has been a growing trend since the Covid pandemic.
A 2024 study by iVendi found that 74% of car buyers expect to use some form of online process for their next purchase. In fact, 75% said online buying met or exceeded expectations, with convenience and access to information cited as top reasons. The 2024 EY Mobility Consumer Index echoed this trend, reporting that 25% of consumers now plan to buy their next vehicle online—up from 18% in 2021. Even among those who still prefer to finalize the purchase at a dealership, 87% use online tools for research beforehand.
Meanwhile, Deloitte’s 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Study reveals that while 86% of U.S. consumers still want to test-drive a vehicle in person, digital tools are now a critical part of the buying journey.
Bottom line? Amazon is making it easier than ever to lease an EV and claim that tax credit—without the dealership hassle. If you're ready to plug in, it might be time to add to cart.

Read more
Gemini AI coming to cars as Android Automotive update suggests it’s due soon
The 6.8-inch Pioneer digital media receiver installed in a vehicle's dashboard.

Google appears to be getting ready to sends its Gemini AI into cars through an Android Automotive update.

This would make sense as Android Automotive already uses Google's Assistant to help with those much-needed in-car hands-free requests.

Read more
Watch from the passenger seat as the new Porsche 911 GT3 sets a record at the Nürburgring
911 GT3 with Weissach Package (Manual Transmission), Nürburgring Nordschleife 2025, Porsche AG

If you've ever wanted to race at top speeds around one of the most iconic racetracks in the world, then now is your chance. A new Porsche 911 GT3 just set a record for the fastest time around the Nürburgring in a road car with a manual transmission, knocking almost 10 seconds off the previous best time. And Porsche has released a video of the run filmed from the cockpit, so you can experience the thrills for yourself.

The record was set by legendary driver and Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister at the wheel of a 911 GT3 with the Weissach package, setting a time of 6:56.294. That's 9.5 seconds ahead of the previous record set by the Dodge Viper ACR in 2017 -- though there's some math involved in these time calculations as the track was reconfigured in 2019.

Read more