Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation have announced a significant collaboration with Samsung Electronics, marking a partnership forged on January 3rd. This collaboration aims to establish a seamless connection between residential and mobility spaces through a Car-to-Home and Home-to-Car service.
As per the agreement, Hyundai and Kia customers will gain the capability to control digital appliances remotely using touch and voice commands via their vehicle’s in-car infotainment systems. Simultaneously, they will have control over various vehicle functions through AI speakers, TVs, and smartphone apps.
This collaboration integrates Hyundai and Kia’s connected car services with Samsung’s Internet of Things (IoT) platform, ‘SmartThings.’ It’s anticipated that customers will enjoy uninterrupted connectivity experiences in their daily lives, leveraging this integration in various ways.
For instance, during a hot summer evening commute, users can activate ‘Home Mode’ from their cars to switch on the registered air conditioner, air purifier, initiate the robot vacuum, and illuminate their home for a comfortable atmosphere. Similarly, before heading out, they can activate ‘Away Mode’ to turn off unnecessary lights, start the robot vacuum for a tidy space upon return, and pre-adjust the vehicle’s air conditioning for a pleasant temperature.
Hyundai and Kia’s Car-to-Home service will allow users to customize specific modes for different scenarios, minimizing device operation while driving. Location-based automatic operations, alongside touchscreen and voice commands, will add to the convenience for customers.
Moreover, owners of electric vehicles will benefit from SmartThings’ integrated home energy management service to monitor and optimize energy usage for their homes and vehicles.
The future plan involves extending these Car-to-Home and Home-to-Car services to overseas customers by linking Hyundai and Kia’s connected car platforms with Samsung SmartThings. This expansion includes developing stable infotainment systems for service provision and subsequent updates via over-the-air (OTA) and USB-based methods, even for existing vehicles.
Haeyoung Kwon, Vice President of Hyundai and Kia’s Infotainment Development Center, expressed enthusiasm: “This opportunity allows us to enhance the connected car’s services, making them more convenient across various domains. We aim to expedite technology development to add ongoing value to journeys for our global customers.”
Chanwoo Park, Executive Vice President at Samsung Electronics, highlighted the potential of this collaboration: “By bridging the SmartThings platform with vehicles, we anticipate significantly elevating customer experiences in both home and car environments.”
Hyundai and Kia have already been providing Car-to-Home and Home-to-Car services in collaboration with telecom and construction companies. With this partnership, these services, previously available for specific devices, will extend to a broader range of devices, offering enhanced connectivity options.
