Kia and Uber are teaming up for a partnership in the realm of Personal Mobility Vehicles (PBVs) at CES.

Kia and Uber are teaming up for a partnership in the realm of Personal Mobility Vehicles (PBVs) at CES.

Kia Corporation and Uber Partner to Revolutionize Mobility with Personalized Electric Vehicles

In a groundbreaking move, Kia Corporation and Uber have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on Kia's planned development and deployment of Personalized Battery Electric Vehicles (PBVs). The partnership aims to enhance electric vehicle offerings on Uber's mobility platform and support Uber in achieving its 2040 zero-emission goal.

The collaboration will see the growth of the Kia Flex program in North America, with global expansion planned. Sangdae Kim, Head of PBV Division at Kia, stated that the partnership will enhance Kia's PBV development, focusing on advanced software and services, with the integration of interactive In-Vehicle Infotainment and advanced safety technology.

Each variant of the Kia PV5, the all-new, modular vehicle arriving in 2025, will offer a unique set of characteristics. The partnership's goals extend to the production of PBVs tailored to the needs of drivers that use the Uber platform. Personalized riding environments and interactive rear-seat entertainment systems may follow as part of the development of optimized PBVs.

SeungKyu (Sean) Yoon, president & CEO of Kia North America and Kia America, stated that PBVs will deliver industry-leading technology with advanced software and services to enhance the ride hailing experience. The partnership intends to identify optimal specifications for PBV models, with the possible further integration of technology and services to benefit drivers and ride hailing users alike.

The partnership also seeks to broaden the appeal and lower the cost of electric vehicles, making them a more natural choice for more drivers. Kia and Uber will collaborate to reduce initial vehicle purchase costs of PBVs by analyzing various options. The application of Kia Connect diagnostic and preventive services will drive operational efficiencies by using data-driven solutions.

New driver and passenger experiences could be facilitated through the development of optimized connected car experiences. The PBV project aims to advance Hyundai Motor Group's ambitions in robotics, Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), and autonomous driving. Revealed at CES 2024, Kia's PBV project is a multi-phase, decade-long plan to revolutionize the mobility industry.

Drivers on the Uber platform are early adopters of electric vehicles, going electric six to seven times faster than the general population in the US and Europe. The partnership will produce Kia PBVs optimized for drivers and fleets as part of Kia's 'Platform Beyond Vehicle' strategy.

The plans of Kia Corporation and Uber to develop and market PBVs were officially announced at a press event or official communication, but the specific location or event of this announcement is not detailed in the available search results. However, this partnership marks a significant step towards a more sustainable and personalized future of mobility.

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