Hyundai, Kia partner with Samsung on next-gen infotainment

• Hyundai and Kia’s next-generation infotainment system due in 2026
• New infotainment system will integrate Samsung’s SmartThings app
• New infotainment system will offer some features that relate to aspects of a user’s lifestyle and tastes beyond the vehicle

Hyundai and Kia on Wednesday announced a partnership with Samsung to develop a next-generation infotainment system taking advantage of the capabilities of new software-defined vehicles currently in the works at both automakers.

An SDV is simply a vehicle whose software and hardware enable it to be updated via the cloud, potentially for its entire lifetime.

And the new infotainment system Hyundai and Kia are planning will enable owners to control much more of the vehicle using a smartphone than what is currently possible, thanks to the integration of Samsung’s SmartThings app which enables multiple connected devices to be controlled via the one app. To simplify the registration process, user accounts will be linked with the account of the user’s smartphone, Hyundai and Kia said.

The new infotainment system will be unveiled in 2026, though the automakers didn’t name the first vehicles that will use the system.

They said there will be a range of features introduced alongside the infotainment system, both developed internally and by third parties. One of these will be a vehicle locator that will work globally. It will rely on a crowdsourced network of hundreds of millions of Samsung smartphones using Bluetooth connectivity, meaning it won’t require cellular coverage to function.

Eventually, Hyundai and Kia will be able to offer features related to aspects of a user’s lifestyle and tastes beyond the vehicle. The automaker mentioned areas such as healthcare and pet care.

Hyundai and Kia didn’t mention what operating system their infotainment system will use, though Android is a likely bet given Samsung uses the operating system for its own devices. There was also no mention whether the new infotainment system will support Apple CarPlay, though Hyundai and Kia said the system will be an open ecosystem, suggesting support for CarPlay will be included.

In August, Honda and Nissan announced plans to jointly explore platforms for next-generation SDVs.