Kia Teams Up With Samsung For Its “SmartThings Pro” IoT Platform – CleanTechnica

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Last Updated on: 28th February 2025, 03:23 am

I just tried my best to introduce and share Kia’s new PV5 and its overall PBV concept. At the heart of the PV5 and broader PBV platform, though, is going to be Samsung internet of things (IoT) software. The last big announcement from 2025 Kia EV Day is about this new partnership and Samsung’s ‘SmartThings Pro’ platform.

This involves providing business customers with a way to wirelessly control aspects of the vehicles and associated “appliances” when they buy a PBV. “Kia will integrate Samsung’s IoT platform, ‘SmartThings Pro’, into its PBVs, enabling wireless control of connected devices and technologies through a ‘Plug & Play’ service. This solution allows business customers to integrate and manage IoT-enabled appliances without complex installations, simply by attaching a smart connector,” Kia writes. How about we let a couple of human executives from Samsung and Kia explain further?

“By integrating SmartThings Pro into Kia PBV, we plan to present an intelligent new way for businesses to be connected to their customers,” says Chanwoo Park, Executive Vice President of B2B Integrated Offering Center at Samsung Electronics. “We will provide an optimized integrated store management experience based on customized solutions to cater for a range of B2B customers including the self-employed and small business owners.”

“Kia PBVs are designed to be more than just vehicles, they are intelligent business solutions that connect seamlessly with digital ecosystems,” said Sangdae Kim, Head of Kia’s PBV Division. “We anticipate that our business collaboration with Samsung, leveraging its AI B2B solution SmartThings Pro, will extend the vehicle user experience for our business customers beyond PBVs into the broader IoT ecosystem. This partnership is expected to create new opportunities for discovering customer value.”

All clear? The vehicles will be more intelligent, more connected, and more controllable. Got it?

Kia tries to explain further, including with a business example:

“By integrating SmartThings Pro into its PBVs, Kia is enabling automated connectivity between vehicles and business spaces. This integration allows B2B customers to configure business routines, activating the appropriate routine based on the destination entered in the PBV’s ‘In-Vehicle Infotainment’ (IVI). This allows for seamless and secure management and monitoring of external business operations, even while on the road.

“For instance, when small bakery owners set a nearby wholesale market as the destination, the pre-programmed business routine will activate an ‘Ingredient Purchase Mode’, and the vehicle’s internal refrigeration system will be automatically adjusted to ensure the ingredients remain fresh during the trip.

“Once the ingredients are purchased and the store is set as the destination, ‘Commute Mode’ will activate. This allows the owners to prepare the store before arriving by turning on the air-conditioning, signage, and other equipment. They can also receive a task list intelligently, such as checking inventory and replacing filters, enabling them to prepare the store for operation without staff.

“After business hours, they can activate a ‘Closing Mode’, which ensures that the store’s devices are powered off, energy-saving measures are applied, and security management is taken care of automatically. They will also receive real-time notifications through IVI while driving if unusual activity is detected or if maintenance is required, such as in the case of device malfunctions.

“Further examples of the technology’s functionality include an ‘Unmanned Operation Mode’, which hospitality venues can use to remotely handle check-ins and check-outs, unlock room doors, control devices, and optimize climate control settings. Even while driving, owners can monitor the interior and exterior of the rooms through IVI and check guest reservation information to perform remote check-ins and check-outs.

“SmartThings Pro will utilize AI-driven pattern recognition to recommend and refine automated business routines, while PBV owners will be able to monitor and control these features directly through the vehicle’s infotainment system, or through a tablet device.”

Hmm.

I look forward to seeing this applied in a real-world business case.

Samsung and Kia also plan to create “specialized IoT solutions” for PBV business customers and their unique needs and requests in the different industries they operate in.