Kia, 42dot, Geotab to team up for PBV management system

Kia Corp. said on Friday it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with 42dot and Geotab to develop a management system for purpose-built vehicles (PBVs).

The companies aim to develop a cloud-based Fleet Management System (FMS) that enables real-time vehicle management using data, without requiring additional devices.

The system will be applied to Kia’s first dedicated PBV, the PV5, slated for mass production in 2025.

42dot, Hyundai Motor Group's software unit, is responsible for developing core vehicle software, while Geotab provides connected vehicle services in 160 countries.

The collaboration also includes plans to develop a driver application to suggest optimal routes and promote safe driving, which could be integrated into Kia’s PBV displays.

Fleet management systems are typically used by companies operating large vehicle fleets, such as rental car firms and logistics operators.

Current systems often require separate devices to gather vehicle data, but the new cloud-based FMS aims to simplify the process.

Write to Jin-Won Kim at jin1@hankyung.com