Kakao Mobility announced on the 24th that they will introduce a ‘connected car’ service that enables vehicle control and driver assistance through a wireless network. The first connected car service of Kakao Mobility was planned based on the public API (Application Programming Interface) for third-party app developers provided by Tesla. Through this service, Tesla owners using the KakaoNavi app can experience various specialized integration features for Tesla vehicles, such as remote control and information guidance.
To use the service, users need to authenticate their vehicle ownership in the Kakao T or KakaoNavi app and allow access to the Tesla account. Once completed, users can use the connected car service through the ‘My Car Management’ tab within the KakaoNavi app.
The provided services include functions such as ‘Afterblow’ that dries the air conditioner moisture after parking, ‘Destination Integration’ that automatically shares the destination set in KakaoNavi with the Tesla car navigation, ‘Charging Station Recommendation’ that suggests the optimal charging station based on real-time driving range, and ‘Vehicle Control and Information Provision’ functions such as operating the air conditioning, lights, horn, checking battery status, and more.
For example, if a user searches for a destination and checks the estimated time through KakaoNavi before moving the vehicle, the destination information will be automatically sent to the Tesla car navigation, allowing the user to receive navigation guidance as soon as they board the vehicle. Users can also activate the maximum cooling or heating function before boarding the vehicle, and receive guidance to a suitable charging station mid-route based on the remaining battery level, ensuring a hassle-free journey to the destination.
Kim Jae-hyun, Executive Director of Kakao Mobility’s Car Owner Business Division, stated, “When Kakao Mobility services are connected to vehicles, they can create new customer value in various areas such as driving, charging, maintenance, insurance, etc.” He also mentioned that in the future, they plan to enhance driver convenience and provide a differentiated mobility experience through various connected car services.
Tesla had released official API documentation for third-party app developers in October last year, enabling support for applications other than the Tesla app.