Kia has launched its CarPay in-car payment service, starting first with the EV3 electric compact SUV.

The EV3 and all future Kia models will feature the CarPay service

The service enables drivers to pay for items and services from inside the vehicle and will be available in all future Kia models.

The first application is with Parkopedia, which helps drivers in Europe to locate available parking and pay for it through the vehicle’s navigation screen.

The service is accessible through the Kia Connect App and from the vehicle’s touchscreen, with payments linked to the drivers’ payment card.

Kia said the integrated system was a significant step towards expanding the range of in-car payments, add-on features, in-vehicle apps and electric vehicle-related use-cases.

“Bringing an easy and streamlined payment method into the vehicle is a game-changer,” said Olivier Pascal, general manager and head of connectivity, Kia Connect. “This is just the beginning, with CarPay set to expand in the future to include payments for a wide range of goods and services, to provide greater convenience for drivers and passengers.”

Parkopedia provides access to more than 1.7 million parking spaces across on- and off-street locations in 19 European countries. The tie-up with Kia help drivers to find the nearest available parking spot at their destination, detailing the costs involved and predicting the likely number of available spots. Kia CarPay then enables the customer to pay for parking through a secure transaction via a securely stored payment card, with no additional apps necessary.

A study by Parkopedia saw 92% of drivers say they find it difficult to locate available parking spots across France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. This is especially problematic with electric vehicles, with 49% of EV drivers across France, Germany, Italy, and the UK receiving unexpected parking fines while charging.

Hans Puvogel, COO at Parkopedia, commented: “Kia CarPay adds significant convenience and from launch helps to alleviate one of the key pain points for drivers, simplifying the process of finding and paying for parking.

“Not only does this reduce the amount of time drivers spend searching an area to locate an available space, but it also bypasses the frustrating process of having to find an operational parking machine or downloading various phone apps to try to activate and pay for parking sessions.”