V2X Technology and Its Impact on Connected Car UX
As the automotive industry accelerates towards automation and connectivity, V2X technology is emerging as a crucial piece of the puzzle. By enabling seamless communication between vehicles, infrastructure, pedestrians, and networks, it promises to make roads safer, reduce congestion, and bring autonomous mobility closer to reality.
Yet, for all its potential, V2X adoption is not without challenges. From infrastructure gaps to standardisation struggles, the industry must overcome significant hurdles to make this technology truly effective.
In this blog, we explore what V2X is, how it is shaping the connected car experience, and what needs to happen for businesses in the automotive and mobility sectors to unlock its full potential.
What is V2X Technology?
V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) is an umbrella term for the suite of communication technologies that allow vehicles to exchange real-time information with other connected entities. These include:
V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle): Communication between vehicles to prevent collisions and improve traffic efficiency.
V2I (Vehicle-to-Infrastructure): Interaction with traffic lights, road signs, and smart city infrastructure to optimise navigation and fuel efficiency.
V2P (Vehicle-to-Pedestrian): Enhancing safety by alerting drivers and pedestrians of potential hazards.
V2N (Vehicle-to-Network): Connecting vehicles to cloud services for real-time traffic updates, navigation assistance, and software updates.
These technologies, when integrated, create a smart transportation ecosystem that enhances mobility, safety, and efficiency.
V2X Promises vs Reality
V2X technology is often expected to revolutionise connected car experiences. The ability for vehicles to communicate with each other, infrastructure, and even pedestrians should, in theory… create a seamless and safer mobility ecosystem.
But as with any emerging technology, the reality is more complicated. Adoption remains fragmented, and without widespread standardisation and infrastructure upgrades, many of these promises remain out of reach.
Safety Alerts That Prevent Rather Than React
One of V2X’s biggest promises is predictive safety, warning drivers of hazards before they even come into view. In Japan, Honda has tested V2P (Vehicle-to-Pedestrian) systems that send alerts to both drivers and pedestrians via in-car notifications and smartphones. This proactive approach could significantly reduce accidents in urban areas.
Yet, without widespread V2X adoption, safety improvements are limited. Most Western markets still rely on ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) like camera-based pedestrian detection, which can struggle in poor visibility or high-traffic environments. A single connected car cannot prevent accidents if the rest of the vehicles on the road are not speaking the same language.
The Smart Traffic Dream vs Today’s Congestion Reality
In theory, V2X should eliminate congestion by allowing vehicles to communicate with traffic lights, road signs, and even each other to optimise routes in real time. Singapore’s smart traffic control systems already use adaptive signalling to improve journey efficiency, reducing delays across the city.
But many global cities are still years away from implementing this level of coordination. London’s congestion zones, for example, rely on static traffic models rather than real-time data. Without infrastructure investment, V2X-equipped cars are still navigating inefficient systems, unable to unlock the full benefits of connected mobility.
Autonomous Driving Needs V2X… But It Is Not There Yet
Self-driving technology remains heavily reliant on onboard sensors such as LiDAR and radar, which have limitations when it comes to detecting hazards beyond their direct line of sight. V2X could fill these gaps by allowing autonomous vehicles to receive real-time data from other road users and infrastructure.
China is already trialling smart city zones where self-driving cars communicate directly with intersections, traffic lights, and each other, creating a far smoother experience. By contrast, in San Francisco, GM’s Cruise autonomous vehicles have struggled with real-world unpredictability, sometimes coming to a complete stop in confusion because they lack direct communication with road infrastructure.
GM Cruise ultimately ceased operations after October 2023, following a devastating incident in which one of its self-driving vehicles struck a pedestrian, dragging her 20 feet before coming to a stop on top of her, leaving her critically injured.
A UX Challenge That Cannot Be Ignored
For all its benefits, V2X will only be effective if it enhances, rather than complicates, the user experience. Poorly designed interfaces, overwhelming alerts, and inconsistent implementations across manufacturers could frustrate users rather than improve safety.
OEMs currently take different approaches to V2X alerts, from visual displays to haptic steering wheel feedback. This lack of standardisation risks creating confusion for drivers. Just as iconography on dashboards has become universal, we predict that a common V2X interface will emerge, ensuring that warnings and real-time information are displayed in a clear and intuitive way.
Good Examples of V2X in Use
Clear and Intuitive Alerts
Audi’s Traffic Light Information (TLI) system in the US is a strong example of how V2X can enhance the driving experience. By providing real-time traffic signal data directly in the vehicle’s dashboard, it allows drivers to anticipate red lights and adjust their speed accordingly, reducing sudden braking and improving traffic flow.
Seamless Connectivity
China’s smart city projects are setting the benchmark for V2X adoption. Major cities have started integrating vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, allowing traffic lights, public transport, and private vehicles to operate in sync. This large-scale investment is what enables connected vehicles to function as intended, rather than as isolated smart cars in a disconnected system.
Real-Time Visualisation and Standardisation
While V2X information is currently displayed differently across brands, the trend is shifting towards augmented reality (AR) windshields as the preferred method for visualising connected data. By overlaying real-time traffic and safety alerts onto the driver’s field of vision, AR can improve situational awareness without adding distractions.
The Challenges of V2X Adoption
Despite its potential, V2X still faces several barriers:
Infrastructure Readiness: Many cities do not have the necessary smart infrastructure to support large-scale V2X implementation. Without investment in connected traffic systems, vehicles remain isolated in their intelligence.
Interoperability: Different automakers and governments are using varying communication protocols, making seamless integration difficult. Standardisation efforts like the EU’s Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) framework are essential but slow-moving.
Cybersecurity Risks: As with any connected technology, V2X presents new attack surfaces for hackers. Secure communication protocols and real-time threat detection will be critical to its success.
The Road Ahead for V2X Technology
The biggest shift in V2X technology adoption will come when regulators enforce standardisation, allowing all vehicles to communicate seamlessly, regardless of manufacturer.
Commercial fleets and public transport will likely be the first to benefit, with logistics companies already investing in connected vehicle technology to optimise route planning. Consumer vehicles will follow, but only if infrastructure and standardisation efforts keep pace with innovation.
V2X is not just about making cars smarter. It is about transforming how cities function, how people move, and how safety is embedded into every journey. The potential is enormous, but the road to mass adoption requires collaboration between automakers, governments, and technology providers.
The future of mobility is connected, but the industry must overcome its biggest roadblocks to get there.
