- Cars from the brand’s two models will be linked seamlessly to Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem.
- A crowdsourced global vehicle location tracking service will help owners find lost or stolen cars.
- The new infotainment system will be unveiled in 2026.
Hyundai, Kia, and Samsung will collaborate on a next-generation infotainment system that seamlessly links future software-defined vehicles from the carmakers with smartphones.
The three companies have started work on the new infotainment system and an open mobility ecosystem alongside Hyundai Motor Group’s global software center, 42dot. Future vehicles will be seamlessly linked to Samsung’s ‘SmartThings’ ecosystem using an Internet of Things (IoT) platform, meaning owners will be able to operate smart Samsung devices from their vehicles.
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For example, drivers could wirelessly control Samsung air conditioners and other smart home devices. Similarly, the partnership will allow Hyundai and Kia drivers to get access to ‘SmartThings Find’, a crowdsourced global vehicle location tracking service that uses data from hundreds of millions of Samsung Galaxy devices. If a future Hyundai or Kia is stolen, it could be found anywhere in the world using this technology.
“Through our collaboration with Hyundai and Kia, customers will experience the convenience of SmartThings not only at home but also in their vehicles, transcending space,” the president and chief technology officer of Samsung’s DX Division, Paul Cheun, said. “We will continue to expand the SmartThings ecosystem, offering new lifestyles and value to even more customers.”
Hyundai and Kia also plan to introduce new services to owners routinely to “make all daily experiences user-centered.” A new vehicle app market for software-defined vehicles will also be established. An expansion of the SmartThings platform is underway and will enable in-vehicle health monitoring of occupants through Galaxy devices and wearables, like smartwatches.
The new infotainment system will be unveiled in 2026, although neither Hyundai nor Kia have said when it will be introduced into their production cars.
“Our goal is to enrich Hyundai Motor and Kia customers’ mobility experience by offering personalized services that extend beyond transportation, seamlessly integrating vehicles with smartphones,” added the president and head of Hyundai Motor Group Advanced Vehicle Platform Division, Chang Song.
