Hyundai Motor, Kia and Samsung Electronics join forces to enhance SDV user experience

• Alliance to strengthen the connection between software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and smartphones to secure a leading position in the mobility ecosystem
• Hyundai Motor and Kia to Develop Next-Generation Infotainment System and Open Ecosystem in Collaboration with 42dot to Deliver User-Centric Experience
• The agreement also aims to enhance the connectivity of Hyundai Motor and Kia’s next-generation infotainment system with Samsung’s global “SmartThings” platform
• Hyundai Motor, Kia and Samsung plan to develop technology that connects SDVs with smartphones, creating services optimized for customers’ lifestyles and tastes
• Create an open ecosystem and develop services that provide a convenient mobility experience by providing vehicle data application programming interfaces (APIs)

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation announced a strategic technology partnership with Samsung Electronics to enhance the integration of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) with smartphones, with the goal of securing a leading position in the mobility ecosystem.

The signing ceremony was held today at the Samsung Electronics R&D Campus in Seoul, attended by Chang Song, President and Head of Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) of Hyundai Motor Group; Haeyoung Kwon, Vice President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group’s Information and Entertainment Development Center; Paul (Kyungwhoon) Cheun, President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Device eXperience (DX) of Samsung Electronics and Head of Samsung Research; and Jinhee Choi, senior executive vice president of 42dot.

Hyundai Motor and Kia are preparing for the SDV era by anticipating the diversity of in-vehicle services. To this end, they are working on a next-generation infotainment system and an open mobility ecosystem in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group’s global software center, 42dot. This development aims to provide a user-centric vehicle experience, increasing the connectivity of the infotainment system, which is scheduled to be unveiled in 2026.

“Our goal is to enrich Hyundai Motor and Kia customers’ mobility experiences by offering personalized services that go beyond transportation, seamlessly integrating vehicles with smartphones,” said Chang Song, president and head of Hyundai Motor Group’s Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) business unit.

Through the agreement, Hyundai Motor and Kia will develop technology to organically connect SDVs and smartphone ecosystems using Samsung Electronics’ “SmartThings.” Through integration with the global Internet of Things (IoT) platform, they aim to enrich customers’ mobility experiences, seamlessly connect the entire vehicle usage process with smartphones, and accelerate the transition to true SDVs.

“Through our partnership with Hyundai and Kia, customers will experience the convenience of SmartThings not only at home but also in their vehicles, extending beyond space,” said Paul (Kyungwhoon) Cheun, president, CTO of DX Division at Samsung Electronics and head of Samsung Research. “We will continue to expand the SmartThings ecosystem, bringing new lifestyles and value to even more customers.”

With enhanced connectivity, Hyundai Motor, Kia and Samsung Electronics will introduce a vehicle location verification service. expanded and improved through integration with “SmartThings Find”, offering a global vehicle location tracking service. The service is available via a crowdsourced network of hundreds of millions of Samsung Galaxy devices that use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to report their location without the constraints of cellular network coverage.

Customers can easily check the location of their vehicle using the Connected Car Service app in unexpected situations, such as forgetting where they parked or in the event of theft. Even Hyundai or Kia customers whose vehicles are not registered with Connected Car Service can check the location using the Samsung SmartThings app.

Hyundai Motor and Kia will also simplify the process of registering new members by connecting user accounts with Samsung Electronics. In the future, they plan to provide services optimized for customers’ lifestyles and tastes, such as healthcare, pet care and vehicle interiors, and continue to work with Samsung Electronics to provide new mobility experiences.

Hyundai Motor and Kia, together with 42dot, plan to seamlessly connect vehicles and smartphones and continuously introduce new services, aiming to make all daily experiences user-centric. They also plan to continuously develop services that provide convenient and enjoyable mobility experiences by sharing vehicle data application programming interfaces (APIs) and software development kits (SDKs) with various business partners, including Samsung Electronics, through a next-generation infotainment system based on an open ecosystem.

Hyundai Motor and Kia also plan to hold the 2025 Developer Conference in the first half of next year and announce plans to create an SDK where third-party developers can directly participate and develop “killer apps” and an in-car app marketplace for SDVs.