23 July 2010

Microsoft’s Walter Sullivan addresses the audience, highlighting UVO

The new 2011 Kia Sportage took to the streets of San Francisco this week for its official unveiling at a national press event.

This subcompact crossover utility vehicle (CUV) is the next vehicle in Kia Motors’ growth strategy and extends company momentum generated this year from the Soul, Forte and Sorento.

We look at UVO, powered by Microsoft, as a brand, and we believe it to be a game changer for us

Henry Bzeih, Kia Motors The new car will be among the first Kia Motors’ models to offer UVO, powered by Microsoft, an innovative infotainment system built on the Windows Embedded Automotive software platform.

Set to debut in dealerships this summer, this vehicle, along with the Sorento and upcoming Optima, mark the first stops on the journey for UVO.

“We look at UVO, powered by Microsoft, as a brand, and we believe it to be a game changer for us,” said Henry Bzeih, national manager, Connected Car, for Kia Motors. “Building more blocks – like telematics, enhanced features and any future products we’ll overlay on top of that – is just going to support UVO as a true game changer.”

“UVO reinforces one of the major pillars of the Kia Motors brand – technology. There is a lot of emphasis on the styling and on the quality aspects of the vehicle, but there is a pillar that is going to really stand out because of UVO, and that is the technology and connectivity,” added Bzeih.

Highlighting the strong partnership, Walter Sullivan, senior product manager for Windows Embedded, who was also on hand for the event, said, “We’re really happy with what Kia Motors is doing. They’re taking the message that they can innovate on the Windows Embedded Automotive platform and moving it forward. Car-makers wanting to differentiate themselves with technology are looking for a software platform they can innovate on to distinguish themselves and their vehicles.”

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