Kia Motors India becomes the leader in Connected Cars with 50,000 active cars on road

Becomes the only manufacturer to reach this milestone within eleven months
of its first product launch

New Delhi, July 07, 2020: Kia Motors India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kia Motors Corporation has recently surpassed the landmark figure of 50,000 activated connected cars on road which includes the bold and dynamic Kia Seltos along with the premium and extravagant Kia Carnival. Kia Motors India is the only manufacturer to secure this feat within just over 10 months of its first product launch in the country.

Commenting on the achievement, Mr Kookhyun Shim, MD & CEO, Kia Motors India said, “We have attained this landmark figure due to our strong determination and continuous efforts to bring innovation and next-gen technology to our customers. At Kia Motors India, we are committed to meet new consumer demands and fill the gap in what’s offered to them. Kia’s innovative UVO connect technology has brought about a significant change in the way owners engage with their cars in India. Now with the updated UVO connect features in the new Seltos and upcoming Sonet, Kia has made driving even more fun, safe, convenient and comfortable.”

Kia debuted connected technology features right at the outset with the launch of its first car, the best-selling Seltos, in the country, which came equipped with the UVO technology. UVO Connect is an advanced, dynamic and innovative connected car solution that seamlessly integrates one’s smartphone, car and its infotainment system into a single unit to provide a secure, convenient and joyful experience of owning and driving a Kia. Initially launched with 37 smart features, this connected technology now boasts of 50+ category-first features.

Committed to setting new benchmarks, the latest enhancement to its UVO-led technology is the introduction of UVO - Voice Assist wake up Command “Hello Kia” which wakes up the UVO system by simply saying “Hello Kia”. With this addition, the UVO connected car system features nine new voice commands including Calling, Weather Information, Time and Date, Indian Holiday Information, Cricket Score, Media Control, Navigation Control and Climate Control. Additionally, the UVO Smart Watch App Connectivity option offers added convenience of using the connectivity features through a Smart Watch, built on Android, iOS or Tizen operating systems.

UVO Connect technology has not only provided a seamless experience but has also proven to be tremendously useful and widely appreciated by customers due to the newly added safety and connectivity features such as:

•       Stolen Vehicle Notification which has helped customers remotely immobilise their stolen vehicle with the help of Kia’s dedicated call centre

•       Auto Collision Notification feature which successfully proved to be a lifesaving technology for some, wherein family/friends of customers were informed regarding the crash on time

•       Remote Smart pure Air feature to monitor the AQI inside the car, before even stepping in. 

Kia Motors India is now gearing to launch its third product in the country which will also be equipped with Kia’s UVO Connect technology and will offer category-busting features.

Kia Motors India has also introduced India’s first Connected Car Insurance for its customers. The unique policy is specifically designed for Kia Cars equipped with revolutionary inbuilt connected car technology and infotainment system-- ‘UVO’. Reinforcing its customer first ideology, this policy offers a comprehensive benefit to customer & will prove extremely beneficial for Kia customers who will now be able to claim settlements with ease and on priority and leverage Kia’s connected car offerings. The program is being offered by Bajaj Allianz & ICICI Lombard GIC. This is for information about a new product in the interest of Kia customers and is not a solicitation for insurance.

About Kia Motors India (KMI)

In April 2017, Kia Motors signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the State Government of Andhra Pradesh, India, to build a new manufacturing facility in Anantapur District. Construction of Kia Motors’ first manufacturing facility in India has been completed and commenced the mass production in August 2019. The manufacturing facility has an annual production capacity of approximately 300,000 units. Kia Motors has made a mark in India with its first product – the Seltos establishing itself as a trusted brand with record bookings of 6,046 on the first day of bookings. Kia Motors India has a widespread network of 265 customer’s touchpoints, in 160 cities across Tier 1, 2 and 3 cities in India.

For more information about Kia Motors India, please visit www.kia.com/in  

About Kia Motors Corporation

Kia Motors (www.kia.com) is a maker of world-class quality vehicles for the young-at-heart. Founded in 1944, Kia today sells around 3 million vehicles a year in over 190 countries, with 52,000 employees worldwide, annual revenues of over KRW 58 trillion (about US$50 billion) and manufacturing facilities in six countries. Kia is spearheading the transition to electric vehicles and pursuing mobility services to help tackle urban challenges around the world. The company's brand slogan – "The Power to Surprise" – represents Kia’s global commitment to surprise the world with exciting, inspiring experiences that go beyond expectations.