South Korean car maker Kia has entered a partnership with Samsung to introduce IoT technology into its Platform Beyond Vehicles (PBVs) offerings.

The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to redefine the in-vehicle and out-of-vehicle experience for PBV customers. The signing ceremony was attended by Sangdae Kim, head of Kia’s PBV division, and Chanwoo Park, executive vice president at Samsung.

The collaboration aligns with Kia’s wider PBV strategy, which seeks to expand the role of PBVs beyond transportation into customised business offerings that can be integrated into broader digital ecosystems.

“Kia PBVs are designed to be more than just vehicles, they are intelligent business options that connect seamlessly with digital ecosystems,” said Sangdae Kim. “We anticipate that our business collaboration with Samsung, leveraging its AI B2B SmartThings Pro, will extend the vehicle user experience for our business customers beyond PBVs into the broader IoT ecosystem. This partnership is expected to create new opportunities for discovering customer value.”

Kia will integrate SmartThings Pro into its PBVs, enabling wireless control of connected devices and technologies through a plug-and-play service. This allows businesses to integrate and manage IoT-enabled appliances without complex installations, simply by attaching a smart connector.

“By integrating SmartThings Pro into Kia PBVs, we plan to present an intelligent new way for businesses to be connected to their customers,” said Chanwoo Park. “We will provide an optimised integrated store management experience to cater for a range of B2B customers including the self-employed and small business owners.”

By integrating SmartThings Pro into its PBVs, Kia is enabling automated connectivity between vehicles and business spaces. This integration allows B2B users to configure business routines, activating the appropriate routine based on the destination entered in the PBV’s in-vehicle infotainment (IVI). This allows for seamless and secure management and monitoring of external business operations, even while on the road.

Alongside SmartThings Pro integration, Kia (www.kia.com) and Samsung (www.samsung.com) plan to develop specialised IoT options tailored to the needs of PBV business customers across various industries.

The two companies will first launch pilot services for small business owners and the self-employed. Moving forward, they will work on developing IoT product lines specifically for PBVs and bundles tailored to the needs of B2B clients. They also aim to create business models and extend their services to B2B customers globally.