Kia Vehicles Will Get Pleos Connect Starting Next Year

Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) is accelerating its transformation into a software-driven mobility provider, but drivers waiting for unified software across all group brands will need to exercise a bit of patience. While Hyundai is actively deploying its next-generation infotainment platform, Pleos Connect (also known as Pleos), across flagship and volume models, Kia vehicles will not feature Pleos Connect until next year.

What Is Pleos Connect? Android Automotive OS Powered by 42dot

Developed under the leadership of 42dot, Hyundai Motor Group's dedicated global software center, Pleos Connect represents a fundamental architectural shift from legacy automotive infotainment systems. Built on top of Android Automotive OS (AAOS), Pleos Connect turns the vehicle dashboard into an open, dynamic digital environment.

• Smartphone-Like App Integration: Drivers can download, update, and manage vehicle applications as seamlessly as on a smartphone.

• Granular Vehicle Control: Deep software integration allows flexible control over vehicle functions, comfort settings, and driving features.

• Over-the-Air (OTA) Longevity: Enables continuous feature additions and performance updates throughout the vehicle's lifespan.

Why Kia is Waiting Until Next Year: Stability Meets Economies of Scale

The decision to hold off Kia’s Pleos Connect integration until next year is a strategic operational choice rather than a delay. HMG is deploying Pleos Connect first across Hyundai’s volume lineup—starting with The New Grandeur, expanding to The All New Avante, and reaching the new Tucson in the fourth quarter.

"Hyundai Motor Company is laying the foundation through volume models, and the sequential strategy of Kia joining next year is the paving stone for both platform stability and economies of scale. The domestic automobile market is now changing from competition for simple manufacturing options to competition for software content."

— Automotive Industry Official

By testing and optimizing Pleos Connect on models that sell hundreds of thousands of units annually, HMG ensures robust system stability before extending the platform to Kia’s widespread global portfolio.

The Function on Demand (FoD) Era Begins in Earnest

To date, automotive software subscriptions in Korea and global markets have operated on a limited scale—examples include Tesla’s Supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) or Kia’s Remote Smart Parking Assist on the EV9. The broad rollout of Pleos Connect changes this paradigm, moving subscription-based vehicle features from niche offerings into mainstream volume vehicles.

Through Function on Demand (FoD), owners will be able to subscribe to or purchase software upgrades—such as enhanced driver assistance, custom display themes, or specialized infotainment services—on a flexible basis.

Building a 20-Million-Unit Big-Tech Platform Ecosystem

The broader ambition for Hyundai Motor Group extends far beyond traditional car manufacturing. By expanding Pleos Connect to all Kia models starting next year, HMG aims to build a connected fleet exceeding 20 million units globally.

1. Recurring Software Revenue: Transitioning from single-point vehicle sales to continuous, software-based service streams.

2. Big-Tech Enterprise Pivot: Establishing HMG as a global big-tech software platform provider alongside its manufacturing core.

3. Unified Brand Architecture: Creating a standardized software ecosystem across Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.

News source: ETNews