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Kia Connect Joins Forces With Geotab To Elevate Fleet Management Solutions
Kia has announced a partnership with Geotab, a global leader in connected vehicle and asset management solutions. This collaboration aims to enhance operations and driver safety through advanced technology and rich data insights. The fleet management solution can be integrated across various brands without requiring additional hardware.
Geotab will provide a white-label fleet management platform, a fleet manager app, a driver app, and in-vehicle infotainment integration for Kia PBVs. The partnership will also include features like advanced EV routing capabilities with automated charging stop recommendations and Digital Key 2.0.
Kia is revolutionising the light commercial vehicle (LCV) market with its Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) range. This new range aims to transform how businesses operate. To deliver top-tier fleet management for PBVs, Kia Connect has teamed up with Geotab. This strategic alliance will integrate various data solutions, enhanced in-vehicle technology, innovative systems, route optimisation, and safe driving features to improve operational efficiency, safety, and profitability.
"As Kia PBVs will be the most technologically advanced LCVs available, we want to enhance every aspect of the customer experience through advanced connectivity," said Marc Hedrich, President of Kia in Europe. "This extends to having flexible data solutions that enable easy integration in multi-brand fleets without the need for additional hardware."
Kia PBVs uniquely combine fit-for-purpose EVs with advanced software solutions, over-the-air updates, superior dimensions, and loading capacities. The production version of the PV5 is expected to launch in summer 2025. Real-time data access allows for streamlined operations by reducing downtime and optimising maintenance needs.
The system offers customisation options to suit each fleet’s specific needs. It provides flexibility in delivering insights to drivers and fleet managers. The Fleet Management Platform, Driver App, and Kia PBVs' in-vehicle display are developed collaboratively by Geotab and Kia. This ensures synchronised data among all users so everyone has the right information at the right time.
Comprehensive Integration
This comprehensive solution enables fleet managers to integrate other branded vehicles into the platform. It offers a complete overview of their operations while providing a platform to integrate their own business solutions like warehouse management and enterprise resource planning.
"This partnership aims to support fleet managers in their daily operations but also in the strategic management of their fleet," said Christoph Ludewig, Vice President Europe OEM and Leasing/Rental/Mobility at Geotab. "In a market where vehicle uptime directly impacts profitability, Geotab’s advanced data analytics can enable fleet managers to optimise planning efficiently manage EV fleets in line with charging infrastructure."
Future Plans
Kia PBVs are part of the brand’s Plan S strategy which includes expanding its electric vehicle lineup. The brand has developed an innovative BEV platform specifically for PBVs that can adapt to different wheelbase lengths to accommodate various vehicle sizes and conversions easily.
To bring PBV to the road, Kia started building a dedicated plant in Korea last year as part of an investment exceeding €3 billion. This cutting-edge manufacturing system allows for flexible production with more customisation of various product types. The initial PBV production capacity of 150,000 units per year will gradually increase globally to 300,000 units.
Kia Connect Services
Kia Connect is the European subsidiary of Kia Europe delivering connected car services to customers across more than 30 markets from its headquarters in Frankfurt. Its suite of on-board technologies can be accessed through vehicles’ head units or via the Kia Connect smartphone app available on Google Play and Apple App stores.
The app allows EV owners to set climate control levels view charging status plan smart charging schedules check range radius based on remaining charge and change vehicle settings directly from their smartphones including navigation radio Bluetooth preferences.
About Geotab
Geotab leverages advanced data analytics and AI to enhance fleet performance safety sustainability while optimising costs serving over 50,000 customers across 160 countries processing billions of data points hourly from more than 4 million vehicles trusted by Fortune 500 organisations meeting top cybersecurity standards.
Their open platform offers hundreds of third-party solutions through the Geotab Marketplace ensuring comprehensive support for diverse fleet needs worldwide.
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