Hyundai Motors New Zealand is set to become the first vehicle manufacturer in the country to offer real-time traffic updates as an integrated feature of its vehicle satellite navigation systems.

The system will allow drivers to have access to up-to-the-minute information on traffic incidents, including accidents, road closures, congestion, major road works and special events when travelling in cities such as Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Hyundai Motors New Zealand general manager Andy Sinclair said that while the technology is available to drivers overseas, Hyundai is the first to offer it in New Zealand.

"This system ensures that our customers will know which areas to avoid and how to reach their destination in the quickest possible way," Sinclair said.

"We’re a technology-driven company so we encourage and apply innovative thinking, and introducing live traffic updates is just one of the ways we’re leading the market here in New Zealand," Sinclair added.

"The system will allow drivers to have access to up-to-the-minute information on traffic incidents, including accidents, road closures, congestion, major road works and special events."

The new system will receive live road traffic updates from the SUNA Traffic Channel and adjusts the recommended route to bypass traffic.

SUNA Traffic Channel, launched in New Zealand in June 2012, provides detailed congestion monitoring through real-time analysis of data collected from a large number of ‘probe’ vehicles equipped with GPS systems.

It also incorporates information from The Radio Network’s leading Time Saver Traffic service, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and other sources such as emergency services and local councils.

When combined, these data sources offer a detailed view of traffic flows and incidents across New Zealand’s most congested areas.

The new integrated feature will be available as standard on Hyundai’s new generation models of the Santa Fe Elite and Elite Limited, Veloster and as an option on the ix35 Elite, i40 Elite wagon and sedan, and i30 Elite.