In the future, Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis vehicles will allow for convenient enjoyment of YouTube content.
On October 31, Hyundai and Kia announced that they have partnered with LG Electronics and YouTube to enhance the ‘in-vehicle entertainment customer experience’ and provide a wider variety of video streaming services through their infotainment systems.
During this announcement, representatives from Hyundai and Kia, including Kwon Hae-young, head of the infotainment development center, along with LG Electronics’ Vice President Seok-hyun Eun, and Tony Archibong, Managing Director of Global Product Partnerships at YouTube, met at LG Electronics’ North American headquarters in Los Angeles to discuss mutual cooperation.
The ability to watch high-definition video content in the car, much like at home or in a theater, has become possible due to Hyundai and Kia’s advanced technology driven by Software Defined Vehicles (SDV).
Thanks to this collaboration, Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis customers will soon be able to enjoy high-quality YouTube content through their infotainment systems.
This feature will first be applied to the newly launched Genesis GV80 facelift and GV80 Coupe models. Passengers can view content not only on the navigation screen but also through the rear smart entertainment system.
A notable feature is the ability for passengers to enjoy different YouTube content on each seat’s infotainment system, tailored to their individual preferences.
Content can be continuously viewed even while the vehicle is in motion through the rear smart entertainment system; however, for safety reasons, it can only be viewed on the front navigation screen when parked (in P mode).
Hyundai and Kia have been collaborating with LG Electronics and YouTube to provide the in-car YouTube service, making it possible to create a stable and vehicle-optimized streaming service.
With plans to offer a broader range of OTT services, Hyundai and Kia are looking to continue their partnerships with global content companies to include YouTube content.
Recently, Hyundai and Kia introduced a ‘Cinema’ feature in their infotainment software update, allowing customers to experience OTT services such as ‘Watcha’, ‘Wavve’, and ‘U+ Mobile TV’ in their vehicles.
Kwon Hae-young, Director of the Infotainment Development Center at Hyundai and Kia, stated, “The ability to comfortably enjoy various video content in the car is backed by technological advancements based on SDV. We aim to expand our collaboration with global major content providers to offer even more diverse and enriching experiences to our customers.”
Tony Archibong, Managing Director at YouTube, emphasized, “We provide a wide and in-depth range of audio and video content optimized for in-car entertainment. We are proud to be collaborating to elevate the standards of in-vehicle entertainment.”
Seok-hyun Eun, Vice President at LG Electronics, remarked, “We will continue to showcase differentiated customer experiences for both driver and passengers, including the best in-car entertainment experience through our webOS platform and other electronic solutions.”
By Jang Sang-keun (daedusj@autodiary.kr)