- Google Maps gets more than 100 million updates each day to ensure information is always up to date.
- Starting in 2026, Hyundai Motor Group models will use the Android Automotive operating system for their infotainment.
- Two of the first cars to use the new system will be the Genesis GV90 and the second-gen Hyundai Ioniq 5.
Hyundai Motors is tightening its partnership with Google, and this collaboration is about to give your next Hyundai, Kia, or Genesis a serious upgrade in the infotainment department. Soon, these vehicles will come equipped with the latest Google Maps Platform, giving drivers access to information about 250 million places worldwide. And yes, that includes your favorite coffee shop and probably the one you’ve never heard of down the street.
New models will integrate the Google Maps Platform Places API. It’ll be rolled across across Kia models in North America but expanding to vehicles form all three brands in global markets. Google makes more than 100 million updates to Google Maps each day, continuously updating information and ensuring users have relevant details, including business hours, contact information, ratings, and reviews, at their fingertips. It’s like having the world’s most fastidious tour guide riding shotgun.
Read: Google Chrome Comes To Cars And Android Auto Gets New EV Smarts
“Hyundai Motor Group is developing technologies in the field of SDV and mobility to provide customer-centered values,” said Chang Song, head of Hyundai Motor Group’s Advanced Vehicle Platform Division. “Our partnership with Google, who helps people find a lot of useful information around the world, will serve as an opportunity for Hyundai Motor Group, broadening our coverage of technology in the mobility market and providing greater value to customers.”
A Smarter Dashboard, Courtesy of Android Automotive
As interesting as the updated Google Maps functionality sounds, there’s an even bigger tech shift coming. Starting in 2026, Hyundai will roll out an entirely new infotainment system based on the Android Automotive operating system. Unlike Android Auto, which essentially mirrors your phone onto your car’s screen, Android Automotive is the full operating system, purpose-built for cars. This is Hyundai’s play to join the growing list of automakers adopting Android Automotive, which already powers infotainment systems for GM, Ford, Honda, Nissan, Polestar, Renault, and Volvo.
Flagship Genesis GV90 Leads the Charge
The new system is set to debut in the upcoming Genesis GV90, a model positioned above the GV80 in the brand’s lineup and designed to compete with the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7. Unlike those rivals, however, the GV90 is expected to be offered exclusively as an EV. The second-generation Hyundai Ioniq 5 will also launch with the Android Automotive-based OS.
