Hyundai Motor and Vodafone have signed a multi-year extension of their existing partnership to provide in-car connected streaming and infotainment services in more than 40 countries across Europe.

Under the extension, Vodafone will bring its global IoT connectivity for connected car service to millions of Hyundai, Kia and Genesis models sold in Europe. Last year saw Hyundai record its highest annual sales in Europe to date, with nearly 1.1 million units sold, and this announcement underlines the group’s determination to position itself as a leader in mobility innovations.

“The driving experience as we know it will continue to change and we want to be at the forefront of that shift,” said Haeyoung Kwon, vice president of Hyundai’s infotainment development centre. “Vodafone is a trusted partner for Hyundai and has been instrumental in connecting drivers of our vehicles with real-time and relevant information at the wheel. Thanks to our continued partnership, we will be able to make our vision for the automotive world of the future a reality. We are looking forward to seeing this partnership evolve so we can realise the true mobility of Hyundai Motor Group.”

Erik Brenneis, IoT director at Vodafone Business, added: “In-vehicle connectivity is becoming universal. As a leader in IoT, Vodafone Business can offer unique innovations that drive the adoption of the technology. Vodafone and Hyundai have been shaping the future of vehicle mobility since 2018, and the extension of our partnership means we can enhance the experience of millions more customers across Europe.”

With Vodafone’s IoT connectivity, Hyundai, Kia and Genesis drivers in Europe should benefit from fast and reliable access to features such as audio and video streaming and wifi hotspots.

By drawing on the strength and geographical scale of Vodafone’s global IoT platform, which already supports 160 million connections, Hyundai should be able to provide motorists with a more consistent experience and greater level of cross-border mobility.