Hyundai and Samsung Working on Smart Car

No, we're not talking about a smart branded vehicle, but about a new type of car that would establish a better connection between the in-car systems and the driver's smartphone. South Korean carmaker Hyundai is currently seeking partners for such a project and Samsung is one of the candidates that could join it in the quest for developing what Hyundai calls a "smart car", according to a report by the Xinhua news agency.

Hyundai reportedly intends to install a tablet computer in its future models, and the necessary technology to connect it to smartphones inside the car is to be provided by one of the IT companies that could partner it.

Linking in-car systems with smartphones and other mobile devices seems to be the latest trend in the auto industry and companies are injecting more money into developing technologies able to do that. Furthermore, touchscreens and infotainment functions that allow drivers and passengers to browse easier among the car's menus are also top priorities for new models, although selling them might cause some troubles to dealers.

Ford for example has decided to pay some compensations to dealers that sell cars equipped with its MyFord Touch system because they spend too much time teaching customers how to use the function. Each store that sells a Ford model featuring this option will receive $75 in compensation from the parent manufacturer, Ford said in a statement yesterday.

"What customers have told us is the longer they spend with the technology the more they enjoy the features of the system," said Ford spokesman Steve Kinkade. "It's nice that our dealers are spending some extra time with customers, and this is just a way to support the dealers."