Kia, Kakao Mobility to jointly develop PBV for ride-hailing

Kia Corp. and Kakao Mobility announced on Friday that they have signed the previous day a memorandum of understanding for the development of a purpose-built vehicle (PBV) for ride-hailing and an integrated platform service.

Under the agreement, the two companies plan to collaborate on developing a PBV for hailing services and providing services that integrate vehicle operation data and software.

The initial goal is for Kia to apply the requirements proposed by Kakao Mobility for the dedicated PBV to be unveiled in 2025, which is scheduled to be a mid-sized PBV.

The two companies also plan to enhance their collaboration in securing and integrating vehicle operation and status data, as well as integrating in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems with mobile services. After developing the services, they plan to conduct verification tests and officially launch the services by 2025.

Based on the experience gained during the service enhancement process, they also plan to offer additional services derived from vehicle data related to charging, parking and other areas. The scope of collaboration will also expand to include services for those with disabilities, logistics and car rentals.

Earlier, Kia outlined its vision to become the world's leading brand in the global PBV market by expanding cooperation with mobility service companies like Kakao Mobility until 2030.

"We will continue to collaborate with various partners to become a 'customized mobility solution provider' in the future," a Kia official said.

Write to Il-Gue Kim at black0419@hankyung.com