IDEMIA Secure Transactions (IST) has partnered with Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) to deploy a global automotive connectivity management solution built around eSIM technology, as automakers continue shifting toward software-defined vehicle architectures.
Under the agreement, IST will provide its eSIM and Connectivity Manager platform to support connected vehicle deployments across Hyundai Motor, Kia and Genesis brands. The rollout began in 2025 in the Middle East, with broader global expansion planned across additional markets.
The partnership reflects a wider transformation underway in the automotive sector, where connectivity is increasingly treated as core infrastructure rather than a value-added feature. As vehicles become more reliant on over-the-air (OTA) updates, telematics, infotainment services and real-time diagnostics, manufacturers are under pressure to simplify connectivity logistics while maintaining regulatory compliance and network reliability across multiple jurisdictions.
A key element of IST’s offering is the use of embedded SIM (eSIM) technology combined with a centralised Connectivity Manager platform. The model allows automakers to provision and manage mobile network profiles remotely, rather than installing region-specific SIM cards during manufacturing. In practical terms, this enables manufacturers to ship vehicles with a single hardware configuration and activate or switch network operators depending on the destination market.
For global manufacturers producing several million vehicles annually, this has significant supply chain implications. Traditional SIM provisioning can require multiple regional variants, complicating logistics, inventory management and compliance processes. eSIM-based connectivity reduces that fragmentation, while giving manufacturers flexibility to negotiate network agreements market by market.
The ability to dynamically switch mobile network operators is also strategically important in regions where regulatory frameworks, roaming costs or service quality vary widely. In emerging smart city ecosystems — particularly across the Middle East and Asia — reliable in-vehicle connectivity underpins services ranging from navigation and traffic optimisation to emergency response integration.
IST says its Connectivity Manager is GSMA-certified and hosted on Microsoft Azure, supporting secure remote provisioning and lifecycle management of connectivity profiles. As vehicles increasingly rely on OTA software updates, cybersecurity and resilience become central considerations. Compromised connectivity layers can expose vehicles to operational disruption or broader supply chain vulnerabilities.
For smart city planners, large-scale deployment of connected vehicles introduces both opportunity and complexity. Connected cars can contribute to traffic flow analytics, congestion management and infrastructure optimisation when integrated into broader urban data ecosystems. However, interoperability, data governance and cybersecurity standards remain ongoing challenges.
The automotive industry’s pivot toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs) places connectivity at the centre of vehicle design. Rather than treating connectivity as an add-on module, manufacturers are embedding it as a foundational layer that supports continuous feature upgrades, subscription-based services and evolving safety functions over a vehicle’s lifespan.
For Hyundai Motor Group, which produces vehicles at global scale, standardising connectivity architecture across brands could support faster rollout of digital services and improved operational efficiency. For IDEMIA Secure Transactions, the agreement strengthens its position in an increasingly competitive automotive connectivity market that includes telecom operators, chipset manufacturers and specialist IoT connectivity providers.
As smart cities mature and vehicles become more deeply integrated into digital infrastructure, partnerships like this highlight how automotive and connectivity ecosystems are converging. The long-term impact will depend not only on technological capability, but also on how effectively stakeholders address security, interoperability and cross-border regulatory requirements in a connected mobility landscape.
