Kia vehicles are expected to begin receiving Hyundai Motor Group’s Pleos Connect infotainment system in 2027, following its introduction in new Hyundai models. This will introduce a smartphone-like system to Kia cars as well as more Hyundai cars in the future.
The exact Kia vehicles have not been confirmed. However, Electrek, citing South Korean reports, said the company is likely to introduce the system in flagship models first. The Kia K9 sedan and EV9 electric SUV are considered possible early candidates.
Pleos Connect is Hyundai Motor Group’s next-generation infotainment platform. It was developed with 42dot, the group’s mobility software company, and runs on Android Automotive OS.
The system uses an app-based interface with customizable screens, split-screen support, and multiple windows. Drivers can download and update compatible applications through the Pleos App Market. A Pleos ID will also allow users to access the same profile in different compatible vehicles.
Hyundai has designed the main screen around three areas. These show driving information, applications and shortcuts to recently used or pinned apps.
A separate slim display can sit directly in front of the driver and show information such as speed, media and navigation directions. Hyundai has also retained physical controls on the steering wheel and below the main screen for frequently used functions.
In the Hyundai IONIQ 3, Pleos Connect is available with either a 12.9-inch or 14.6-inch central display, depending on the specification. A slim driver-facing display is also available.
Pleos Connect includes Gleo AI, a large language model-based voice assistant developed by 42dot.
The assistant can understand conversational context and less specific instructions such as asking it to navigate “there” or find a nearby restaurant. It can also process several commands in one request.
Drivers can use natural language to control navigation and climate settings or search the vehicle manual. The system can identify where a person is sitting, allowing it to respond to commands such as turning on a specific passenger’s heated seat.
Gleo AI can also search the web for information about news, weather and sports. Hyundai says it plans to expand the assistant with more applications and personalized services over time.
The Pleos App Market allows third-party developers to create services for compatible Hyundai, Kia and Genesis vehicles.
Initial services include NAVER maps and automotive tools, while YouTube, Spotify, essential, and genie can run directly through the car without requiring a connected smartphone. Hyundai plans to add gaming, entertainment and vehicle-management services through future partnerships.
Developers can use the Pleos Playground platform to access software development kits, vehicle APIs, design guidance and other tools. Hyundai says the App Market will be gradually installed in Pleos Connect vehicles from 2026.
Hyundai has not confirmed that the wider Pleos rollout will require owners to subscribe to vehicle functions. Its announcements currently describe an open app marketplace rather than a general subscription system.
Pleos Connect made its production debut in the updated Hyundai Grandeur in South Korea in May 2026.
Hyundai sold more than 10,000 units of the new Grandeur during its first month, according to Electrek. That represented an increase of about 80% compared with June 2025.
Reports suggest Hyundai will introduce the system in the redesigned Avante and Tucson later in 2026. Hyundai has not yet provided complete global rollout details for those two models.
The IONIQ 3 is the first European Hyundai model equipped with Pleos Connect. It also made its first public on-road appearance in the UK during the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The compact electric hatchback measures 4,155mm long, 1,800mm wide and 1,505mm tall, with a 2,680mm wheelbase. Depending on the version, its kerb weight ranges from approximately 1,550kg to 1,580kg.
Hyundai Motor Group plans to install Pleos Connect in around 20 million Hyundai, Kia and Genesis vehicles by 2030.
The platform supports over-the-air updates, allowing the group to add functions and improve performance after a vehicle has been sold. Hyundai describes Pleos Connect as an early step in its shift toward software-defined vehicles and, eventually, vehicles built around more advanced AI interaction.
Kia’s rollout is expected to begin next year, but the company has not officially named the first models or confirmed whether existing vehicles will receive the new platform.
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