Kia India Signs Airtel Business As Connectivity Partner

Kia India has partnered with Airtel Business to enhance its Kia Connect 2.0 platform, which focuses on vehicle management, AI voice command, remote control and navigation. This collaboration aims to provide connected car variants of Kia with reliable and secure real-time connectivity through Airtel’s extensive communications network.

The Kia Connect 2.0 platform will offer Airtel’s infrastructure to enable data transfer for connected vehicles. Hardeep Singh Brar, Sr. VP and Head of Sales and Marketing at Kia India, said “As part of our 2.0 transition, we are introducing the OTA (Over-the-Air) Kia Connect Diagnostics, unlocking the possibilities of Software-Defined Vehicles where IoT technology becomes fundamental to our offerings.” This initiative aims to improve customer experiences by integrating advanced analytics and real-time insights into Kia vehicles.

Sharat Sinha, CEO of Airtel Business, noted the importance of a secure network designed for the Internet of Things (IoT). He stated that Airtel's technology will support Kia’s connected car journey, talking about the need for safe data transmission across devices. Airtel’s IoT Hub will cater to both internal combustion engine (ICE) models and electric vehicles (EVs), offering data privacy and simplifying vehicle management processes.

Key features of the Airtel IoT platform include seamless connectivity for different vehicle models, enhanced safety features such as SOS emergency calling and remote health monitoring capabilities. Airtel’s eSIMs enable vehicles to connect from the factory, facilitating a ‘connected at birth’ experience for customers. Tailored data plans will also accommodate various consumption needs, allowing for flexibility based on vehicle requirements.