Hyundai Motor and Kia are advancing their connected mobility strategy by introducing a new service that links vehicles with home environments. On March 23, the automakers announced the launch of “Car-to-Home,” a feature that allows drivers to control household appliances directly from their vehicle infotainment systems.
The new service expands on the existing “Home-to-Car” functionality by enabling users to manage home devices while on the move. Developed in collaboration with Samsung Electronics, the service integrates the automakers’ connected car platforms with Samsung’s smart home ecosystem.
Through the Car-to-Home feature, users can connect to Samsung’s SmartThings platform and remotely control a range of home appliances, including air conditioners, air purifiers, and robot vacuum cleaners, in real time from inside their vehicles. The service is available for select SmartThings-compatible devices.
The setup process has also been simplified. Customers using Hyundai’s Bluelink or Kia Connect services can easily link their accounts by scanning a QR code displayed in the SmartThings app within the vehicle’s infotainment system using their smartphones.
At the core of the Car-to-Home service is a “connected user experience.” Beyond simple remote control, the system is designed to align with users’ daily routines—from leaving home to traveling and returning—by enabling appliances to operate automatically. Using location-based “smart routines,” users can turn off unnecessary devices or activate cleaning functions when leaving home, and pre-adjust indoor temperature and air quality before arriving back.
The service will be rolled out via over-the-air (OTA) updates to vehicles equipped with Hyundai Motor Group’s ccNC infotainment system in the domestic market.
Industry observers view the new feature as part of a broader shift toward transforming vehicles from simple modes of transportation into integrated lifestyle platforms. As connectivity between cars and smart homes deepens, collaboration between automakers and IT and home appliance companies is expected to expand further.
