Kia Motors America Rolls Out Apple CarPlay® With UVO

Joining the ever-evolving trend in telematics and infotainment, Kia Motors America (KMA) has recently announced that the 2016 Optima and 2017 Sportage, when fitted with a compatible navigation system or UVO3, will be offered with Apple CarPlay® compatibility when the vehicles arrive at Kia retailers during the second quarter.

Moreover, customers who have previously bought the 2016 Optima or 2017 Sportage fitted with compatible navigation system or UVO3 will be given a downloadable update through myuvo.com that will be available starting in the third quarter. Presently on sale, the 2017 Sorento is the first-ever Kia vehicle to be offered with CarPlay® support, and other models in the Kia lineup qualified for the CarPlay® update will be announced at a later date.

Henry Bzeih, Managing Director Connected & Mobility Services, KMA, said that the advent of CarPlay® compatibility follows on a promise they made when Optima was rolled out last year. He added that these running changes and available downloads would seamlessly bring iPhone’s easy-to-use interface and functionality to their latest and best-selling models. Bzei noted that Kia is taking the UVO platform to yet another level of improvement by extending the customer’s personal mobility technologies safely and easily into a Kia vehicle. “CarPlay® will bring an additional element of convenience while maximizing the benefits of connectivity.”

In order to use the iPhone® in the car in a smarter and more convenient manner, CarPlay® provides drivers with the ability to access the device’s smooth user interface via Kia’s UVO infotainment system. By connecting the iPhone® into the USB port, users can make phone calls, send and receive messages, access music and get directions enhanced for traffic conditions and more while staying focused on the road. Additionally, CarPlay® features hands-free support through Siri® voice control or the vehicle’s controls and touchscreen.