Kia and Kakao mobility collaborate for innovation in mobility services with purpose-built vehicles

Kia and Kakao mobility collaborate for innovation in mobility services with purpose-built vehicles

- Kia to develop dedicated purpose-built vehicle (PBV) models reflecting the needs of software service proposals provided by Kakao Mobility, planned to launch in 2025

- Both parties to construct customer-centric mobility services using extensive vehicle operation data and interaction between in-vehicle-infotainment and software platforms

- Business to expand at global level as well as in target areas for logistics and transportation of people with mobility barriers

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Kia Corporation and Kakao Mobility, South Korea’s leading mobility as a service (MaaS) platform service company, today announced a collaboration to develop purpose-built vehicles (PBVs) optimized for ride-hailing and new mobility services linked to PBVs.

The parties, including Kia's President and CEO Ho Sung Song, Executive Vice President and Head of Korea Business Division Hyug Ho Kwon, and Senior Vice President and Head of the eLCV Business Division Sangdae Kim, as well as Kakao Mobility's CEO Alex Ryu, Executive Vice President Matthew Ahn, and Senior Vice President Christopher Chang, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the project at Kia's headquarters in Seoul.

Under the agreement, Kia will develop customized PBVs using operation data of vehicles to meet the specific requirements of Kakao Mobility’s ride-hailing services. The developed PBVs are expected to continue