SEOUL, January 4, 2024 – In a significant advancement in the integration of residential and mobility technologies, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation have joined forces with Samsung Electronics. This collaboration, announced on January 3, aims to revolutionize the connectivity experience by combining Hyundai and Kia’s connected car services with Samsung’s ‘SmartThings’ Internet of Things (IoT) platform.
The partnership focuses on developing innovative Car-to-Home and Home-to-Car services. Hyundai and Kia customers will soon enjoy the convenience of remotely managing home appliances using touch and voice commands through their vehicle’s infotainment system. Conversely, they can control various functions of their cars using AI speakers, TVs, and smartphone apps, seamlessly integrating their home and mobility experiences.
This breakthrough is the result of merging Hyundai and Kia’s advanced connected car services with Samsung’s cutting-edge IoT technology. This integration promises to enhance daily life, offering seamless connectivity and practical applications. For instance, during a summer evening commute, users can activate ‘Home Mode’ to prepare their living space by turning on air conditioning, air purifiers, and lights, or starting a robot vacuum. Similarly, the ‘Away Mode’ allows users to create a welcoming home environment upon their return, in addition to pre-setting their vehicle’s climate.
A key feature of Hyundai and Kia’s Car-to-Home service is the ability to create specific modes for different situations, optimizing device operation while driving. This includes location-based automatic operations, adding to the convenience of touchscreen and voice commands.
Electric vehicle owners will particularly benefit from the integrated home energy management service offered by SmartThings. This service allows users to monitor and manage energy usage in both their homes and vehicles, optimizing charging times.
The expansion of these services to international markets is also on the horizon. Hyundai and Kia aim to bring these innovative features to a global audience by integrating their connected car platforms with Samsung SmartThings. To ensure a stable and efficient service, the companies will focus on developing robust infotainment systems, offering updates via over-the-air (OTA) and USB connections, even for existing vehicles.
Haeyoung Kwon, Vice President of Hyundai and Kia’s Infotainment Development Center, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. “This collaboration marks a significant step in making Car-to-Home and Home-to-Car services more convenient and diverse,” Kwon stated. “We are committed to accelerating our technology development to continually enhance the experiences of our global customers.”
Chanwoo Park, Executive Vice President at Samsung Electronics, also highlighted the future potential of this collaboration. “By connecting SmartThings with vehicles, we aim to significantly improve the customer experience, both at home and on the road, anticipating the needs of future lifestyles,” Park said.
This partnership builds on Hyundai and Kia’s existing Car-to-Home and Home-to-Car services, previously developed in collaboration with telecommunications and construction companies. The new partnership aims to extend these services, previously limited to six items, to a broader range of devices, further integrating home and vehicle technologies for a unified, convenient user experience.
