Kia seals deal to offer ride- hailing to drivers
KIA Corporation and Uber have signed a memorandum of understanding ( MOU) at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show ( CES) in Las Vegas, committing the two companies to collaborate on Kia’s planned development and deployment of ‘ Platform Beyond Vehicle’ ( PBVS).
To enhance electric vehicle offerings available on Uber’s mobility platform and support the global ride- hailing leader in achieving its 2040 zero- emission goal, the partnership will seek to produce Kia PBVS optimized for drivers and fleets as part of Kia’s strategy in this field of the mobility market.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Kia North America, and Kia America,
Seungkyu ( Sean) Yoon, said: “PBVS will play a key role in the customisation of mobility, and by partnering with Uber, Kia aims to deliver industry- leading technology with advanced software and services to enhance the ridehailing experience.
“Drivers on the Uber platform will also have the ability to choose Kia vehicles with a comprehensive suite of offerings that will ease the rampup of electrification and help achieve both Kia’s and Uber’s sustainability goals.”
In a statement by Marketing Manager, Dana Motors Limite d, Jimoh Olawale, said the intentions of the collab oration are for Kia to identify optimal sp ecifications for PBV models, with the possible further integration of technolog y and services to tated through the developbenefit drivers and ride- hailment of optimized operaing users alike. The partnertional solutions, building ship’s goals also extend to the connected car experiences creation of proofs of concept, for all. Personalized riding prototypes, and the producenvironments, including clition of PBVS tailored to the mate and sound control, and needs of drivers who use the interactive rear- seat enterUber platform. tainment systems, may also Head, PBV Division, Kia, follow.
Sangdae Kim, said PBV s will Kia and Uber will collaborate play a key role in the transforon ways to moderate the mation of mobility. This coltotal cost of vehicle ownerlaboration will enhance Kia's ship by analyzing the various PBV development, with optiPBV options and potential mized vehicles for drivers' Battery- as- a- service ( Baas) and riders' needs. subscription offerings to Kim said this will focus on reduce initial vehicle puradvanced software and servchase costs. ices, with the integration of Bringing benefits to Uber interactive In- V ehicle and drivers alike, the collaboInfotainment and advanced ration will also see the safety technolog y. growth of the Kia Flex proNew driver and passenger gramme in North America, experiences could be facili- with global expansion