Hyundai & Kia Adopt Samsung’s SmartThings Connectivity Platform

Samsung partners with Hyundai & Kia to adopt its SmartThings connectivity platform for their models.

Hyundai and Kia cars are about to get access to several Samsung home appliances, thanks to this newly-formed partnership between the Korean giants. Through this partnership, both Hyundai and Kia will adopt Samsung’s proprietary SmartThings connectivity platform for their vehicles.

As a result, both Hyundai and Kia connected car services will be integrated into this connectivity platform, granting drivers and passengers remote access to various Samsung’s in-home appliances and smart devices via the car’s main infotainment screen or even voice commands.

In reverse, SmartThings also allows Samsung device users to gain some remote access to their Hyundai or Kia cars like pre-conditioning, remote ignition, and many more

One particular useful feature of this connectivity system is the ‘Home Mode’, where Hyundai or Kia owners can switch on their home’s air conditioning and lights remotely. Interestingly, this system also works in reverse, meaning that owners of a Samsung device that is connected to this system are granted several remote access to their Hyundai or Kia vehicles, such as pre-conditioning, locking the doors, and many more.

Additionally, for Kia or Hyundai EV owners, the SmartThings platform allows them to check on the energy usage of their home and vehicle, as well as adjust the charging time for their EVs.

“This is an opportunity to make the connected car’s car-to-home and home-to-car services more convenient in various fields,” VP of Hyundai and Kia’s Infotainment Development Center, Haeyoung Kwon, said. “We plan to accelerate our technology development to continuously make global Hyundai and Kia customers’ journeys meaningful.”

Samsung's SmartThings connectivity platform will be made available in selected Hyundai or Kia models through both over-the-air (OTA) and USB-based software updates to their vehicles’ on-board infotainment systems. As of writing, neither Kia nor Hyundai have put up a list of eligible models for this software integration, while its availability on other international markets has also yet to be determined.

As for our Malaysian market, both the Hyundai Blue Link and Kia Connected services are not offered to any Hyundai or Kia models on sale today. With both connected services not yet available for our market, it is safe to assume that it may take a while for this new software integration to be introduced here.