Internationally, Hyundai has long led the way in rapid adoption of new smartphone connectivity options such as those from Apple and Google: CarPlay and Android Auto, respectively.
Kia Motors Australia (KMAu), according to a report by GoAuto, is planning to leverage sister company Hyundai’s supplier of infotainment head units so that it can offer support for both smartphone platforms on their range of vehicles as early as next year.
Kia Motors Australia’s current vendor for infotainment systems currently do not have the proper license to install software support for Apple’s CarPlay and only the 2016 Cerato comes standard with Android Auto connectivity.
Hyundai Australia, however, has already begun to roll out support for both CarPlay and Android Auto in their vehicles due to their different infotainment software and hardware supplier. For example, newer versions of the Elantra, i30, and Tucson already have them pre-installed.
Separately, Kia in North America has begun a program that offers free software updates for many of their 2016, 2015 and even 2014 models fitted with the UVO3 infotainment system or equivalents that will give them new functionality by adding support for Android Auto and CarPlay.
Much like what Hyundai North America did previously with the Sonata and Genesis, Kia’s update can be downloaded and installed to the car by the owners themselves, saving the hassle of having to wait until their next scheduled service or taking their cars to the dealership specifically for it.
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