Samsung Electronics has signed a strategic technology partnership agreement with Hyundai Motor and Kia to elevate users’ connectivity experiences by fully integrating the SmartThings IoT platform with Hyundai and Kia’s software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
Under the deal, Samsung will integrate SmartThings with Hyundai and Kia’s next-generation infotainment system to offer a differentiated experience.
First, they will introduce the global location solution function for vehicles and smart keys based on the SmartThings Find platform, which is a crowdsourced network of hundreds of millions of Samsung Galaxydevices that use the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to report their location.
Through the SmartThings Find service, users can locate vehicles using nearby Galaxy smartphones — even without a 4G or 5G cellular network connection — meaning drivers can more easily track down their cars in the event of them being lost or stolen.
Additionally, drivers can use their Galaxy’s Quick Panel to control air conditioning and check their remaining range from their device. Vehicles can also be added to the connected SmartThings ecosystem, allowing users to return to a home with optimized conditions by controlling their Samsung air conditioners, air purifiers or other connected devices while driving home.
“Our goal is to enrich Hyundai Motor and Kia customers’ mobility experience by offering personalized services that extend beyond transportation, seamlessly integrating vehicles with smartphones,” said Chang Song, President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division.
As part of the agreement, the companies will expand the use of SmartThings to include in-vehicle health monitoring via cameras and Galaxy devices, pet care solutions that optimize vehicle environments for pets, as well as integration with smart apartment solutions and SDVs.
“Through our collaboration with Hyundai and Kia, customers will experience the convenience of SmartThings not only at home but also in their vehicles, transcending space. We will continue to expand the SmartThings ecosystem, offering new lifestyles and value to even more customers,” said Paul Kyungwhoon Cheun, President, CTO of DX Division at Samsung Electronics and Head of Samsung Research.