FRANCOFORTE (GERMANY) (ITALPRESS) – Kia Connect has announced the appointment of Olivier Pascal to President and Chief Executive Officer, from 1 January 2026. Olivier Pascal in the role of General Manager of Connected Cars in Kia Connect, has already started European initiatives regarding customer experience, data and business development for connected vehicles. It has more than 15 years of experience in the automotive sector, where it has held executive roles between dealers, national and global headquarters, ranging from engineering, sales, marketing and technology. N
pascal has played a key role in expanding Kia Connect’s services to support millions of drivers, and in fact, contributing to Kia’s leadership in digital mobility and data-driven solutions. Pascal, in his new position, will continue Kia Connect’s initiatives on connectivity, digital, data and charging, with particular attention to customer experience, innovation and sustainable growth in Europe.
“The mission of Kia Connect is to make every trip and stop for smarter, safer, more comfortable and more personal charging,” said Olivier Pascal, President and CEO of Kia Connect. “In 2026, we will offer tangible value to our customers and B2C and B2B partners, superior functionality, a truly personalized digital experience, scalable B2B services and reliable charging solutions. With innovation, unique customer-side experiences, responsible use of data and operational rigor, we will achieve sustainable growth and a platform that will make the difference to the Kia brand and its success in Europe.”.
Marc Hedrich and Pablo Martìnez Masip leave the roles of President and CEO and COO. They have driven strategic alignment and operational performance in different European markets. Hedrich was appointed President of Kia France, Martìnez Masip will take on the role of Product Vice President and Marketing of Kia Europa. Kia Connect develops a fully integrated digital ecosystem for services dedicated to connected cars, digital mobility solutions and charging services, available to nearly two million users across Europe.
These initiatives support Kia’s broadest transformation into electrified, software-defined and customer-centered mobility in Europe. Launched last May, Kia App improves digital experience by reuniting Kia Connect, Kia Charge and property services in a single interface, with a constant development of aspects regarding charging and integration with the most advanced cities from the technological and environmental point of view. The platform improves practicality, safety and efficiency during the entire period of vehicle ownership and use.
The platform offers a wide range of features, such as Remote Vehicle Status, Vehicle Diagnostics and “Find My Car”, as well as control via charging, air conditioning and closing functions. Over-The-Air (OTA) periodic updates maintain up-to-date and future-ready vehicles, such as the latest versions introduce over 150 functional improvements and new customer feedback-based features.
Kia App, with the latest December update, offers the possibility of 3D views of EV9, for a clearer and more likely view of the car directly on your smartphone.
The new model includes an animated display that allows to analyze shapes and design more naturally, reflecting the exact configuration of each user’s EV9, including external color, circle design, openable roof and seating arrangement. This update reflects the constant commitment to developing an app experience that is increasingly connected to the real vehicle.
It offers drivers a more intuitive visual approach, something that approaches them even more to the car they interact with every day. Kia plans to extend the application of this functionality to other electrical models during 2026, following the performance assessment of the 3D model on EV9.
photo: Kia printing office Italy
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