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Vodafone to Power Hyundai-Kia’s New Infotainment System

Sometime in the course of 2019, some of the cars coming from South Korean manufacturers Kia and Hyundai to customers across Europe will be fitted with a brand new infotainment system. This system, the auto group revealed today, will be powered by Vodafone.
Hyundai and Kia partner with Vodafone for new infotainment system 1 photo
Photo: Stefan Baldauf / Guido ten Brink
Meant to work in parallel with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the Vodafone-powered tool will include up-to-the-minute traffic information, parking and location services, and vehicle diagnostics. More importantly, Hyundai-Kia cars will also get voice-control features for some of its systems.

Not all of the group’s cars will be fitted with the new system, and the two companies have not yet announced the models to get it.

“This strategic partnership will enable us to offer many more drivers maximum connectivity at the wheel, supported by a comprehensive European data network,” said in a statement Jungsik Suh, Hyundai’s VP of the ITC division.

“The system will launch across Europe next year with the arrival of upcoming Hyundai and Kia models, meaning customers will have the most accurate and relevant information at their fingertips.”

The battle for car companies-made infotainment systems has picked up this year in Europe, as giants BMW and Mercedes launched their own upgraded system, both featuring voice-control as the main attraction.

Until now limited to the premium segment, this type of technology was already confirmed to be offered in cars of the Volkswagen group or PSA from as soon as next year. Now that Hyundai-Kia has joined, the race in this segment is likely to pick up.

Vodafone, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world, is no stranger to the automotive world. Its favorite partner in this industry is Ford.

Ford and Vodafone have announced since last year they are working on providing 4G LTE connectivity on the Old Continent, and this year they began research which will lead to the creation of an accident alert system for drivers.
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About the author: Daniel Patrascu
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Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
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