Kia’s AI-Powered Natural-Language Voice Assistant Comes to Cars in Europe

After introducing its in-car generative-AI-powered voice assistant in South Korea and the USA, Kia has announced that some of its customers in Europe will also now be able to use it. Called AI Assistant, it is intended to allow users to ask questions about their car’s features and capabilities as well as route planning, music to listen to, and general information, using natural language. Conversations can be smooth and relaxed, with the assistant said to understand intent and context.

AI Assistant will now be available to owners of the Kia EV3 across Europe. Units built starting in March 2025 will ship with it already enabled, while owners of older ones will be able to use it following an over-the-air software update. Other models fitted with Kia’s Connected Car Navigation Cockpit hardware will soon support the voice assistant. It has been available on the Kia EV3 in Korea since mid-2024, and the Kia K4 in the US since November. It replaces the company’s previous voice command recognition feature. There is no word yet about when this feature might be supported by Kia models in India.

Drivers can activate AI Assistant by pressing a button on the steering wheel or by using the command “Hey Kia”. The company says it will be improved and new functionality will be added periodically with over-the-air updates. 

Examples of what a driver use the AI Assistant for include learning about their car’s features and capabilities for specific situations, such as driving in heavy traffic; setting the cabin temperature; planning activities; requesting music by describing a mood; getting suggestions for restaurants or points of interest around them; and general information searches.