STOCKHOLM — Tobii, the Swedish eye-tracking technology company, and semiconductor manufacturer STMicroelectronics have begun mass production of an interior sensing system for a premium European carmaker, the companies said on Monday.
The system integrates a single wide-angle camera capable of operating in both daylight and low-light conditions to monitor driver and passenger activity, improving vehicle safety and in-cabin experience.
According to the firms, the solution combines Tobii’s attention-computing algorithms with STMicroelectronics’ VD1940 image sensor, delivering dual functionality for both driver monitoring and occupancy detection. The companies said this marks the transition of their technology from prototype to full-scale manufacturing for the automotive market.
Integrated sensing for safety and comfort
Tobii, which has been expanding its automotive division under the Tobii Autosense brand, said the collaboration with STMicroelectronics had produced a “cost-effective, single-camera” design capable of meeting stringent safety requirements while maintaining premium image quality.
“Image quality is critical, and thanks to our strong collaboration with ST, we’ve achieved a unique balance that allows a single-camera solution to meet rigorous safety standards while unlocking enhanced user experiences,” said Adrian Capata, Senior Vice President at Tobii Autosense.
He added that the combination of visible and infrared sensing allows cars to interpret human presence, attention, and behaviour more accurately — a key capability as automakers prepare for tighter EU safety regulations and more semi-autonomous driving features.
Mass production and scalability
STMicroelectronics said it had begun scaling up production capacity to meet rising demand for interior sensing systems across the automotive industry.
“As a result of close collaboration with Tobii, we have created a new generation of interior sensing technology that is reliable, user-friendly, and ready for widespread adoption,” said Alexandre Balmefrezol, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Imaging Sub-Group at STMicroelectronics.
The VD1940 image sensor — part of ST’s SafeSense platform — features a 5.1-megapixel hybrid pixel design that can capture both RGB and infrared light, enabling accurate visibility under various conditions. Tobii’s AI algorithms process the dual video streams to provide real-time data for both the Driver Monitoring System (DMS) and the Occupancy Monitoring System (OMS).
Growing automotive adoption
Tobii said its automotive sensing solutions have been selected in over 160 vehicle models, with both DMS and OMS technologies already shipping in production vehicles. These systems form part of a growing trend among global automakers to integrate intelligent safety features that can detect distraction, fatigue, or unsafe behaviour.
STMicroelectronics, which designs and manufactures its sensors in European fabrication facilities, said the integrated system ensures “supply chain security” and aligns with the company’s sustainability and quality-control goals.
Industry analysts say interior sensing technologies are becoming a crucial differentiator as carmakers respond to new EU General Safety Regulation (GSR) mandates requiring driver attention detection systems in all new cars from 2026.
By offering a single-camera configuration that manages both driver and passenger monitoring, Tobii and STMicroelectronics aim to reduce component costs and simplify in-vehicle integration for automakers.
Tobii, headquartered in Stockholm and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, supplies attention-computing and eye-tracking technology to sectors including gaming, healthcare, education, and extended reality.
STMicroelectronics, based in Geneva, employs about 50,000 people and serves over 200,000 customers worldwide across automotive, industrial and consumer electronics markets.
