[Kia EV Day] Kia Partners with Samsung Electronics to Integrate IoT into PBV

'SmartThings Pro' Integration with PBV

Samsung Electronics' 'SmartThings Pro' will be installed in Kia's Purpose-Built Vehicles (PBV). Cafe operators can prepare for business by turning on the air conditioner in their car before arriving at work or activate security devices they forgot while leaving.

On the 24th (local time), Kia and Samsung Electronics signed a strategic business agreement for B2B business cooperation based on Internet of Things (IoT) solutions in Tarragona, Spain, where the '2025 Kia EV Day' was held. Kim Sang-dae, Vice President of Kia PBV Business Division, and Park Chan-woo, Vice President of Samsung Electronics B2B Integrated Offering Center, attended.

Kia and Samsung Electronics signed a strategic business agreement for B2B business cooperation based on Internet of Things (IoT) solutions on the 24th (local time) in Tarragona, Spain, where the '2025 Kia EV Day' was held. Kim Sang-dae, Vice President of Kia PBV Business Division, and Park Chan-woo, Vice President in charge of Samsung Electronics Device Platform B2B Integrated Offering, are posing for a commemorative photo. (Provided by Kia)

The two companies will link Kia PBV with Samsung Electronics' AI (Artificial Intelligence) B2B solution 'SmartThings Pro' to enable connection and automated control between B2B customers' PBVs and business spaces outside the vehicle. For example, a small business owner running a guesthouse can operate 'unmanned business mode' from the PBV even when not at the guesthouse to check check-in/check-out status and perform actions such as opening room doors and optimizing air conditioning.

Additionally, the two companies will create a 'plug and play' environment inside the PBV that allows wireless control. Using the infotainment system or tablets inside the PBV, individuals can easily integrate and control their personally owned IoT devices such as sensors, lighting, and smart plugs.

Through the partnership with Samsung Electronics, Kia plans to extend the vehicle usage experience of PBV customers to external areas and provide optimized solutions for various small business customers' business environments, aiming to achieve the vision of a 'platform beyond the vehicle.'

At this stage, there is little difference from using 'SmartThings Pro' with a Galaxy Tab inside the car, but it is expected that the technical scalability of PBV will increase further when autonomous driving technology is incorporated in the future.

Kia and Samsung Electronics signed a strategic business agreement for B2B collaboration based on Internet of Things (IoT) solutions on the 24th (local time) in Tarragona, Spain, where the '2025 Kia EV Day' was held. An image showing the integration of Kia PBV and Samsung Electronics SmartThings Pro (Provided by Kia)

Vice President Park said, "Earlier this year at CES, we introduced a SmartThings-linked AI home apartment with Hyundai Motor Company, which was a solution for general consumers, but this time we are expanding cooperation to target B2B business customers. Kia was judged to be optimal as a company with connectivity and various platforms that can be provided to diverse B2B customers, and we have been cooperating since last year."

Vice President Kim said, "SmartThings Pro will significantly contribute to improving the efficiency and productivity of small and medium-sized business owners, who are the core customers of PBV. It is a great opportunity to allow global customers using SmartThings Pro to also use Kia's PBV vehicles."