Kia has introduced a car-sharing service that allows vehicles to be remotely driven to their destinations without a driver on board.
The company announced the launch of a pilot program utilizing the Purpose Built Vehicle (PBV) PV5 in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province. The service began operations the day before, targeting companies located in the Second Pangyo Techno Valley.
Users can reserve a vehicle through a dedicated app, prompting a remote driver to move the PV5 to the requested location. This remote driving is facilitated by an external control center using 4G and 5G wireless communication networks. This approach is less costly than fully autonomous driving, as it can utilize existing communication networks and standard vehicles.
Kia has been validating related technology since obtaining a regulatory sandbox exemption from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in April of last year. In November, the company formed a consortium with Socar, KT, and autonomous driving startup SUM to conduct pilot projects in Jeju and Hwaseong. Notably, Jeju marked the first successful demonstration of remote driving on public roads in South Korea's automotive industry.
Through this pilot program, Kia aims to verify the technology's stability and business viability, with plans to expand the service scope next year.
A Kia representative stated, "Remote driving technology can be applied not only to car-sharing services but also to mobility support in areas with insufficient transportation infrastructure and various convenience services for daily life."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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