The seamless connection between living and moving spaces adds value to mobility.
On the 3rd of this month (Wednesday), Hyundai Motor and Kia signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung Electronics to strengthen the connectivity of living and moving spaces through Car-to-Home and Home-to-Car services.
With this agreement, Hyundai and Kia customers will soon be able to remotely control various electronic devices using touch or voice commands on the infotainment system while inside their vehicles. Conversely, remote control of the vehicle via AI speakers, TVs, and smartphone apps will also be possible.
This is provided through an organic integration of Hyundai and Kia’s connected car services with Samsung Electronics’ global IoT platform, SmartThings. SmartThings allows registration of various devices that provide IoT functions in addition to Samsung products, promising a seamless connectivity experience in customers’ daily lives.
For example, on a hot summer commute, customers can activate ‘Home Mode’ to operate registered air conditioning units and robot vacuum cleaners, brightening lights for a comfortable return home or use ‘Leave Mode’ before going out to check vehicle status and pre-set climate control for an optimal temperature inside the car.
Hyundai and Kia will minimize device operation while driving by offering various modes registered in the SmartThings app directly from the vehicle. In addition to touch and voice commands, automatic execution based on location will also be implemented, making it more convenient for customers to use.
Electric vehicle drivers can monitor their home and vehicle energy usage with SmartThings’ integrated home energy management service and adjust optimal charging times.
By linking their connected car services with SmartThings, Hyundai and Kia plan to expand Car-to-Home and Home-to-Car services to foreign customers as well.
To this end, Hyundai and Kia intend to develop a reliable infotainment system capable of providing stable service, and subsequently offer these features to existing vehicles through OTA (Over-the-Air) updates.
Kwon Hae-young, head of Hyundai and Kia’s Infotainment Development Center, stated, “This will serve as an opportunity to utilize the connected car’s Car-to-Home and Home-to-Car services in a more diverse and convenient manner,” adding, “We plan to accelerate technology development to ensure meaningful journeys for Hyundai and Kia customers around the world.”
Samsung Electronics Vice President Park Chan-woo said, “Through this partnership, Home-to-Car and integrated home energy management services optimized for future lifestyles will become possible,” emphasizing, “We will enhance customer experience by connecting the SmartThings platform with vehicles.”
Meanwhile, Hyundai and Kia have already been providing Car-to-Home and Home-to-Car services through collaborations with telecommunications and construction companies. The Car-to-Home service offers operation of six items including lighting, plugs, gas shut-off, ventilation, air conditioning, and boilers, while the Home-to-Car service includes vehicle climate control, remote start, and charging management, all of which will be further supported by this partnership to connect more varied devices.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr