Car Operating System
Hyundai Motor and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors are planning to develop its own automotive operating system, which is considered the “brain” of smart cars, and turn cars into “smart devices” that run on roads by 2020.
Hyundai-Kia Motors announced its plan to develop an independent software platform optimized to connected cars, which are evolving to moving smart devices, on October 31. The group said it will develop key technologies for its own software that control its smart cars called Connected Car Operating System (ccOS).
In order to develop connected cars, two core technologies – networks connecting cars with external environments and car operating systems that can control the networks – are needed. Previously, Hyundai Motor joined hands with global solution provider Cisco to develop the network technology. In addition, the company created the auto intelligence business division led by Vice President Hwang Seung-ho, a former Samsung senior vice president.
An official from Hyundai Motor said, “Making the best use of open sources, including the Linux-based GENIVI, we will develop a software platform that is customized to provide connected car services.” The GENIVI refers an open source software platform that can realize a wide range of in-vehicle infotainment functions such as navigation, phone calls, the Internet access, music and news and location information.
Hyundai Motor will also pursue open innovation with not only global firms which have the expertise in connected car technology but also domestic startups. The company said, “After conducting various simulation tests to secure the compatibility between cars, the ccOS-installed vehicles are set to be available in 2020 under the concept “Hyper-connected & Intelligent Car.”
According to the recent data released by market research firm BI Intelligence, 6.9 million out of 9.2 million cars to be manufacturing in the global auto market in 2020 will be connected cars wired to networking services, accounting for 75 percent.
Keeping pace with the such trend in the market, Hyundai-Kia Motors announced its plan in April this year to develop connected cars with the concept “Hyper-connected & Intelligent Car” and lead the era of “Car to Life” where cars are to become the center of our lives.