Kia’s vehicles are about to get a smart upgrade, starting in 2027
Get the Tech newsletter
Daily tech — startups, AI labs, chips, the launches that shape the next decade. Free.
- Kia vehicles will begin receiving Hyundai's new "Pleos" infotainment system starting in 2027, with flagship models expected to get the tech first.
- Hyundai introduced the Pleos software brand last year and aims to equip over 20 million vehicles with the system by the end of the decade, including Kia and Genesis models.
- Pleos runs on Android Automotive OS and features 12.9" or 14.6" center screens, customizable displays, and an AI voice assistant called Gleo AI built on a large language model that adapts to location and driving conditions.
- Hyundai's redesigned Grandeur was the first vehicle to debut with Pleos, selling over 10,000 units in its first month — up 80% from June 2025 — followed by the redesigned Avante and Tucson later this year.
- Hyundai's IONIQ 3 became the brand's first European vehicle with Pleos, making its public road debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this month.
- The Kia K9 and electric EV9 are likely candidates to be among the first Kia models equipped with the new infotainment system.
Why it matters: Kia's adoption of Hyundai's Pleos platform — targeted at over 20 million vehicles by decade's end — marks Hyundai's pivot toward becoming a global software platform company, not just an automaker, with local reports calling Pleos a potential turning point for the group's identity.
