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With the rise of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in transportation, a pressing concern is their seamless integration into daily life. In multi-pedestrian settings, two challenges emerge: ensuring unambiguous communication to individual pedestrians via external Human-Machine Interfaces (eHMIs), and the influence of one pedestrian over another. We conducted an experiment (N=25) using a multi-pedestrian virtual reality simulator. Participants were paired and exposed to three distinct eHMI concepts: on the vehicle, within the surrounding infrastructure, and on the pedestrian themselves, against a baseline without any eHMI. Results indicate that all eHMI concepts improved clarity of communication over the baseline, but differences in their effectiveness were observed. While pedestrian and infrastructure communications often provided more direct clarity, vehicle-based cues at times introduced uncertainty elements. Furthermore, the study identified the role of co-located pedestrians: in the absence of clear AV communication, individuals frequently sought cues from their peers. 

Human–Machine Interfaces (HMIs) for automated vehicles (AVs) are typically divided into two categories: internal HMIs for inter- actions within the vehicle, and external HMIs for communication with other road users. In this work, we examine the prospects of bridging these two seemingly distinct domains. Through a partici- patory workshop with automotive user interface researchers and practitioners, we facilitated a critical exploration of holistic HMI design by having workshop participants collaboratively develop interaction scenarios involving AVs, in-vehicle users, and external road users. The discussion o!ers insights into the escalation of interface elements as an HMI design strategy, the direct interac- tions between di!erent users, and an expanded understanding of holistic HMI design. This work re"ects a collaborative e!ort to understand the practical aspects of this holistic design approach, o!ering new perspectives and encouraging further investigation into this underexplored aspect of automotive user interfaces.