Hyundai updates the 2024 Kona Electric with in-car payments

The 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric is getting a cool new update that should simplify the lives of its owners. Imagine pulling up to a parking space, tapping a few buttons on your dashboard touchscreen, and presto, your parking spot is reserved and paid for. The future, it seems, isn't at the doorstep; it's already inside the car.

With the introduction of Hyundai Pay, the 2024 Hyundai Kona drivers will have the power of seamless transactions at their fingertips – quite literally. Hyundai's partnership with Parkopedia is a fresh approach to simplify the sometimes tedious task of finding and reserving parking. US drivers can now lay claim to any of over 6,000 parking spots without the usual dance of finding a parking meter or downloading yet another mobile app.

This Kona in-car payment system isn't just a one-off. Hyundai is already preparing to include the payment service in an additional nine models, through an OTA update. They're playing coy about which vehicles will be bestowed with this tech for now though. Still, given Hyundai's hint about the platform catering to "electric vehicle-related use cases," it wouldn't be far-fetched to expect the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6 to join the party.

Parkopedia, while a catchy name, isn't limiting its services to just parking. Operating across 90 countries, the company has dipped its toes into EV charging and tolls as well. With over 70 million parking spaces in its database and the ability to match charger locations globally, one might say they're not exactly parking their ambitions.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona electric, debuted in March with an interesting design, topped off with an arsenal of tech features. Hyundai offers two battery variants: a 48.6 kWh with 197 miles of range and a 64.8 kWh delivering the respectable 260 miles.

The Kona, which is named after the western district of the Big Island of Hawaii, is also flaunting a dual 12.3-inch panoramic display, SmartSense ADAS, and a connected car navigation cockpit, aptly named ccNC. While Hyundai is yet to reveal the exact pricing, rumors put the starting price at $35,000. That's a slight increase over the 2023's model $33,550 starting price, but equipment difference may account for the gap.

Source