Autonomous driving technology is evolving rapidly, and the rollout of Level 3 autonomy is redefining the value proposition of the in-cabin space.
As driving authority transfers between the system and the human driver, users need a smooth transition between relaxation and ready-to-take-over states. Traditional cockpit design centred on driving controls can no longer meet this new demand.
How to mitigate take-over anxiety through experience design while safeguarding safety within a comforting, restorative cabin environment is a core challenge for next-generation intelligent cockpit design. Drawing on cross-industry user design insights accumulated at Ford, these reflections will be shared at the Hongqiao International Science and Technology Week 2026 forum.
Hongqiao International Science and Technology Week 2026 will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) from November 20 to 22. As one of its six thematic stages, the Future Mobility & Energy Stage brings together industry practitioners from relevant sectors. Through keynote speeches and panel discussions, it explores technology deployment, business models and partnership opportunities amid mobility transformation and energy transition.
The agenda covers AI enablement and global overseas expansion, commercial closed loops for solar-storage-charging systems, battery lifecycle management and V2G business ecosystems, as well as the intersection of autonomous driving, low-altitude economy and new energy. It connects innovation practices across energy and mobility, offering multi-dimensional perspectives for industry exchange and collaboration.
At this forum, Claire CHING, Deputy Director of Commercial Design at Ford Motor Company, will deliver the keynote speech Cabin Experience Designed for L3 — From Restorative Comfort to Assured Safety. Drawing on years of user experience practice across automotive and healthcare sectors, she will explain the design logic behind the transformation of L3 cabins into restorative third spaces. She will share cabin implementation solutions that ease occupant anxiety via emotion recognition and multimodal environmental adjustment, paired with occupant monitoring and safety redundancy strategies to balance comfort and driving safety.
Keynote Cabin Experience Designed for L3 — From Restorative Comfort to Assured Safety
For Level 3 autonomous driving, the intelligent cockpit evolves from a “driving-assistance space” into a “third space blending restoration and peace of mind”. Leveraging environmental perception, emotion recognition, seat positioning, scent, lighting and multimodal interaction, the cabin relieves users’ anxiety while they wait to take over control. Meanwhile, pre-tensioning seatbelts, occupant status monitoring, redundant alerts and scenario-based safety strategies ensure comfort stays within safety limits, delivering a seamless experience from restorative wellbeing to secure, enjoyable riding.
Speech Date: November 20, 2026 Stage: Future Mobility & Energy
Speaker Bio
Claire CHING Ford Motor Company Deputy Director of Commercial Design
Claire holds a master’s degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She has over ten years of experience in product strategy and user experience design across the automotive and healthcare industries. Guided by human-centred design principles, she leads accelerated innovation within organisations.
Her portfolio includes experience design for Lincoln’s new energy vehicles, Philips’ innovative maternal and infant product lines, smart home IoT ecosystem experiences, and elderly care solutions for Panasonic. She is dedicated to integrating technology, digitalisation and business strategy with human-centric experience design. Her broad expertise enables her to develop forward-looking solutions that help brands maintain competitive advantages in the marketplace.
