Today’s person expects seamless connectivity in automobile too… these options will solely enhance in future: Kia Motors

The related automobiles of immediately may in the end take us on the trail of autonomous autos. But that may be a lengthy path of evolution and the related automobiles now are getting higher at what they do and turning into much less depending on the smartphone for connectivity. We related with Tae-Jin Park, Executive Director and Chief Sales Officer of Kia Motors India, to know a bit extra in regards to the good automobiles of immediately and what his firm is doing on this house.
Edited excerpts from an electronic mail interview:
How do you make a automobile good? What are the guiding ideas firms take a look at? What issues do they need to clear up?
Tae Jin-Park, Executive Director and Chief Sales Officer Kia Motors India
The traces between completely different applied sciences are blurring and identical to a smartphone, a automobile must also cater to all of the wants of immediately’s clients. Telematics is the sector that’s making our automobiles good and in the meanwhile Kia is the related automobile chief in India. We supply good automobiles with plethora of Advanced Connected/Smart options comparable to distant automobile management, AI-powered voice instructions, OTA (Over the Air) map updates, devoted 24X7 contact centre help for emergency and concierge companies.
At Kia, we construct good automobiles on the three guiding ideas of Safety, Security and Convenience. There are many issues beneath these classes which a wise automobile can clear up. For instance – three buttons, geared up on the IRVM (Inside Rear View Mirror) of our autos particularly SOS, RSA (Road Side Assistance) and UVO, not solely show helpful throughout emergency conditions but in addition supply comfort to our clients in only one push of a button.
Plenty of the options we see now are what you even have on the cellphone? Is that going to vary?
A automobile is not only a mode of commute; it’s an extension of 1’s character. Today’s Internet-savvy technology has advanced connectivity wants, which aren’t restricted solely to their smartphones. They count on related seamless entry to the Internet world even with their automobiles together with the benefit of mobility. And as we transfer into the longer term, connectivity will likely be greater than only a characteristic however a necessity within the modern world.
Most of the options in our related automobiles are an integration of car-specific and cellphone options. Like Remote Engine Start/Stop or Live Car Tracking and so forth. requires each the know-how to come back collectively. In addition to this, there are numerous automobile particular options as nicely. To offer you an instance, Kia automobiles are geared up with embedded M2M (Machine to Machine) SIM with which in-car options like SOS, RSA (Road Side Assistance), ACN (Auto Collision Notification) and POI (Point of Interest / Destination Support) that would solely be doable with telephones earlier.
In the longer term, the connectivity options will solely enhance and so do the mixing of cellphone and automobile together with automobile particular applied sciences. Features like V2V (Vehicle to Vehicle) know-how wouldn’t require a cellphone to run. Similarly, we will witness options like V2I (Vehicle to Infrastructure) or V2P (Vehicle to Pedestrian), that won’t require a cellphone to work. Since the evolution of related automobiles, it has been difficult the traditional definition of mobility and we’re certain it would by no means cease as the probabilities are limitless.

How a lot buyer suggestions do you’re taking earlier than searching for new options?
At Kia, we consider in innovation pushed by buyer wants and calls for, which is mirrored in all our merchandise. Our product technique is designed to maintain millennial and Gen Z customers in thoughts. Upon getting into India, we performed deep-rooted analysis for greater than two years that helped us in understanding the native market and customise the automobiles with the required options accordingly. We witnessed many unmet calls for of the Indian viewers and therefore, placing all our analysis collectively we got here up with our product and pricing technique which hit the candy spot.
Our analysis & improvement workforce and product planning workforce work collectively to develop the very best product protecting all of the exterior components in thoughts earlier than introducing any new product/ options/ companies and so forth. Based on our analysis and suggestions from clients, we take a name on the requirement of a selected characteristic in that exact time.
How typically do you add new options as updates? Is that straightforward to do in a automobile?
We analyse the market developments over time after which solely roll-out any characteristic updates. We preserve enhancing the potential of related automobile know-how with every product occasion like Model Year Change or New Product Launch. We additionally attempt to pass-on the enhancement to our current clients by way of software program updates if doable. In immediately’s world with superior contactless tech like OTA (Over the Air) updates are rather more simplified with the potential for additional service enlargement. We are among the many first few producers in India who launched OTA know-how within the automobile.
UVO join by way of smartphone
As automobiles develop into smarter, are there fears round safety?
Our clients are at the focus of our technique and therefore securing their information turns into considered one of our main focuses. We apply the very best trade practices for information safety that adjust to authorities tips and have partnered with main firms to offer our safety infrastructure for a similar.
How a lot are automobile firms wanting ahead to 5G to reinforce the characteristic choices?
The world rollout of 5G goes to disrupt many industries, and equally, the auto trade will even witness lots of modifications. 5G will mainly improve the communication between clients and their autos and can supply a seamless driving expertise. It provides the OEMs flexibility to discover and introduce related options that require excessive velocity and low latency.
However, related automobile know-how remains to be a brand new idea in India. 5G introduction in India is at a nascent stage and the timeline for its official roll-out remains to be unclear. As a number one model within the related automobile house, Kia is nicely geared up to embrace the brand new age of seamless connectivity. We are always analysing the evolving shopper developments and can introduce new options in related automobile know-how as and when the market is prepared.