This photo provided by BMW Group Korea shows the BMW Driving Center in Incheon.
SEOUL, July 1 (Korea Bizwire) — Starting today, drivers of select Hyundai, Kia, and BMW vehicles in South Korea will receive in-car recall notifications via dashboards and audio alerts, as part of a pilot program aimed at improving recall compliance rates.
The Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS) announced that the initiative will leverage over-the-air (OTA) software updates to notify drivers when their vehicles are subject to safety recalls.
The program covers 3.33 million Hyundai and Kia vehicles across 37 models, including the Ioniq 5, 6, and 9 and Kia’s EV3, EV6, and EV9, as well as 350,000 BMW units from 12 models, including the 1 to 7 Series and X Series SUVs.
The OTA alerts will appear visually on the vehicle’s display screen or dashboard and may include audio prompts during engine startup. These messages will be repeated periodically until the vehicle receives the required recall service.
Currently, South Korean authorities notify vehicle owners of recalls via text messages and postal mail, with a second notice issued if the recall completion rate remains below 70% within six months.
The pilot project will collect and evaluate data throughout the year to determine whether in-car notifications boost recall completion rates. Based on the results, revised national recall notification guidelines may be introduced by year-end.
“Unaddressed vehicle defects can pose serious risks not only to drivers but to others on the road,” said TS Chairman Jeong Yong-sik. “We urge affected vehicle owners to respond promptly to recall alerts, and we remain committed to enhancing notification systems for greater public safety.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
