Hyundai Motor and Kia Corporation have agreed to collaborate with the South Korean government to develop and commercialize a next-generation, connected digital tachograph for commercial vehicles.

The two automakers, both part of Hyundai Motor Group, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Transport and the state-run Korea Transportation Safety Authority, committing to developing and introducing the new digital tachograph in their commercial vehicles from 2026.

Digital tachographs automatically record a vehicle's speed, mileage, and location in real time using Global Positioning System (GPS) data. Transportation companies in South Korea are required by law to fit tachographs in commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses, with the data typically extracted and submitted manually to the authorities.

Next-generation digital tachographs store, analyse and submit the data automatically using connected vehicle platforms. Hyundai and Kia plan to integrate their existing connected service platforms, Bluelink and Kia Connect, into their digital tachographs, which they expect will help “reduce compliance burdens on commercial vehicle operators and increase the overall data submission rate.”