This free update is a boon for Kia and Hyundai drivers
Software problems
Car brands, of course, know better than anyone else how to build a car. A tight chassis? Check. A smooth powertrain? No problem. But software, that’s another matter. Since the first navigation and infotainment systems made their appearance in the 1990s, many brands have struggled with the digital part of the car. Volkswagen almost went under not so long ago. Not surprising: bits and bytes are simply different from nuts and bolts.
Android Automotive
Silicon Valley giants Google and Apple are now providing their own infotainment software to automakers. Google does so with Android Automotive – not to be confused with Android Auto, which you use via your smartphone in the car. Android Automotive is a full operating system in the car itself, including apps like Google Maps, Waze and Spotify as well as voice control via Google Assistant. Following brands such as Volvo, Polestar and Renault, Hyundai and Kia will soon switch completely to this system as well. But those who can’t wait are already getting a taste. Both brands are already integrating Google Places into their navigation systems.
What is that?
Google Places is a sort of “light” version of Google Maps. Instead of searching endlessly for an exact address, you can now simply type “Italian restaurant with terrace” into the navigation system of Kia and Hyundai and the car does the rest. Thanks to Google Places, the system knows not only where something is, but also what it is, when it is open, how busy it is and what others think of it. Photos, reviews, menus – it’s all there.
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What really makes this update different from yet another map update? It’s in the way you search for information. You no longer have to think like a computer (“Street name, house number, city”), but you can just type like you talk. ‘Cafe with playground , “gas station with restroom,” or “hotel with charging station” – and the suggestions appear instantly.
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Who gets this software?
Models of Kia and Hyundai with the so-called Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) will receive the update automatically. Models that rolled off the assembly line in late 2023 often already have it, so “older” models also get this update. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV4 are the first brand-new models to be equipped with Google Places by default. The rollout of this update has now begun. No visit to the dealer is required, just a working wifi connection and some patience. Also not unimportant: this is a free update.
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