Hyundai Motor and Samsung Launch ‘Home-to-Car’ Service

Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. announced on Sept. 25 that they are launching a “Home-to-Car” service that integrates connected car services with Samsung Electronics’ global smart home platform, “Samsung SmartThings.”

Customers of Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Genesis will be able to check vehicle status and control key functions through various smart home devices connected to SmartThings, as well as smartphones. Existing customers using connected car services such as Bluelink, Kia Connect, and Genesis Connected Services can control their vehicles without switching apps by linking their accounts in the SmartThings application. This Home-to-Car service is available for vehicle models equipped with ccNC and ccIC27 infotainment systems.

Customers can check real-time vehicle status including tire pressure, door open/close status, climate control system, remaining driving range, window status, and battery level in the SmartThings environment. Functions such as door lock/unlock, engine start/climate control activation, and electric vehicle charging control can also be executed remotely.

Users can also experience vehicle control through various devices used in daily life. For example, on a morning commute, activating Away Mode by opening and closing a door equipped with a smart door lock will turn off all lights and appliances in the house and activate the robot vacuum cleaner, while simultaneously starting the engine and climate control in the vehicle to create a comfortable environment.

SmartThings is a platform used by hundreds of millions worldwide and can register various smart home devices beyond Samsung Electronics products. This is expected to create synergy effects by connecting Hyundai Motor and Kia vehicles to a broad device ecosystem.

Hyundai Motor and Kia plan to introduce various services including the expansion of Car-to-Home functions (controlling home appliances from the vehicle), AI-based routine automation, and voice recognition-based integrated control, starting with this collaboration. A Hyundai Motor and Kia official stated, “Vehicles are no longer just a means of transportation, but are becoming another platform connected to customers’ living spaces. Through this partnership, we will continue to provide experiences where cars and daily life seamlessly connect.”