Kia has joined forces with Samsung Electronics to upgrade the digital capabilities of its Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) lineup by incorporating SmartThings Pro, an advanced IoT solution. The companies formalized their partnership with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during Kia’s 2025 EV Day in Tarragona, Spain, highlighting a key milestone in their collaboration. This initiative is designed to provide business customers with smarter mobility solutions, enabling them to manage workplace devices seamlessly from their vehicles.
The agreement builds on a broader technology partnership between Hyundai Motor Group and Samsung Group, which recently announced joint projects in robotic batteries and smart factories. With SmartThings Pro, Kia’s PBVs will connect various devices and services across homes, offices, and commercial spaces, enhancing energy efficiency and space management.
Through the integration, small business owners can manage appliances, security systems, and inventory directly from their PBVs, enhancing efficiency and convenience.
For instance, a bakery owner driving a Kia PBV can set a wholesale market as the destination, triggering an automated cooling mode to keep ingredients fresh. Upon returning to the bakery, the system can activate work mode, switching on lights, air conditioning, and other essential equipment while generating a to-do list. Similarly, after business hours, a closing mode can ensure that all appliances are turned off, security measures are engaged, and real-time alerts are sent to the owner in case of any irregularities.
This integration also benefits hospitality businesses, such as guesthouse operators, who can activate an unmanned mode to manage check-ins, unlock doors, and adjust room settings remotely. Food truck operators can streamline their setup by automating signage, lighting, and kitchen equipment, reducing preparation time. By linking PBVs with SmartThings Pro, Kia and Samsung are offering business owners a smart, connected workspace on wheels.
Kia’s PBVs, built with modular and adaptable designs, will feature a plug-and-play system that simplifies the installation of smart devices. Business owners will be able to monitor and control their stores while on the move, receiving proactive alerts for maintenance or security concerns. AI-driven pattern recognition will further refine automation routines, ensuring optimal performance tailored to each business’s needs.
Kia has a broader vision of the “Platform Beyond Vehicle” strategy, which aims to transform PBVs into intelligent business solutions rather than just transportation. With plans to roll out this technology by mid-2026, Kia and Samsung anticipate their collaboration will redefine mobility by integrating vehicles into the larger IoT ecosystem, enhancing business operations worldwide.
Kia plans to introduce 11 PBV models by 2030, including the PV5 and PV7, which are set for launch in 2027. The company aims to capture 20% of the light commercial EV market, targeting 250,000 PBV sales by 2030. With only 6% of light commercial vehicles currently being electric, Kia sees PBVs as a game-changer, particularly in Europe. Alongside SmartThings Pro, Kia and Samsung will roll out pilot services for business users, develop specialized IoT products, and explore new business models to expand their global B2B footprint.
