Hyundai and Kia Partner with Samsung to Revolutionise Smart Mobility
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation have formed a strategic technology partnership with Samsung Electronics. The partnership aims to pioneer the mobility service ecosystem by enhancing the integration of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and smartphones.
The partnership was officially initiated today at a ceremony at Samsung Electronics' Seoul R&D Campus, attended by prominent figures including Chang Song, President of Hyundai Motor Group's Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division; Haeyoung Kwon, Vice President of Hyundai Motor Group's Infotainment Development Center; Paul (Kyungwhoon) Cheun, President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Samsung's Device eXperience (DX) Division and Head of Samsung Research; and Jinhee Choi, Senior Executive Vice President of 42dot.
Looking forward to the SDV era, Hyundai and Kia are preparing to develop a next-generation infotainment system and an open mobility ecosystem in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group’s global software centre, 42dot. This initiative will focus on a user-centred vehicle environment, set to enhance the connectivity of the infotainment systems to be revealed in 2026.
“Our ambition is to enrich the mobility experience for Hyundai and Kia customers by offering personalised services that extend beyond transportation, seamlessly integrating vehicles with smartphones,” stated Chang Song.
Following this agreement, Hyundai and Kia will develop technologies to seamlessly connect SDVs with the smartphone ecosystem through Samsung's 'SmartThings'. This integration with the global Internet of Things (IoT) platform aims to enrich the customer mobility experience, linking vehicle use to smartphones and facilitating the transition to true SDVs.
"Through our partnership with Hyundai and Kia, customers will benefit from the convenience of SmartThings not only at home but also in their vehicles, transcending physical spaces," Paul Cheun added. “We are committed to expanding the SmartThings ecosystem, delivering new lifestyles and value to more customers."
This enhanced connectivity will enable Hyundai, Kia, and Samsung Electronics to launch a vehicle location verification service. It will leverage 'SmartThings Find' to offer a global vehicle tracking service through a crowdsourced network of millions of Samsung Galaxy devices using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology.
Customers can conveniently locate their vehicles using the Connected Car Service app in situations such as forgetting where they parked or in case of theft. Hyundai or Kia customers who do not subscribe to the Connected Car Service can still locate their vehicles via the Samsung SmartThings app.
Furthermore, Hyundai and Kia will streamline the new member registration process by integrating user accounts with Samsung Electronics. Looking ahead, they plan to offer services tailored to customers' lifestyles and preferences, including healthcare, pet care, and vehicle interiors. This ongoing collaboration with Samsung Electronics aims to deliver new, enhanced mobility experiences.
Hyundai, Kia, and 42dot are committed to seamlessly connecting vehicles to smartphones, continuously introducing new services focused on user-centric daily experiences. They will also continue to develop services for a convenient and enjoyable mobility experience by sharing vehicle data APIs and software development kits (SDKs) with various partners, including Samsung Electronics, through the next-generation infotainment system based on an open ecosystem.
Additionally, Hyundai and Kia are set to host the ‘2025 Developer Conference’ in the first half of next year. At this conference, they will unveil plans to create an SDK and develop a vehicle app market for SDVs, inviting external developers to participate and build innovative applications.
