Hyundai and Kia Launch Level 4 Autonomous Bus Trials in Seoul

Hyundai Motor and Kia are collaborating with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to establish a future ecosystem for autonomous city bus services.
 
On October 1, Hyundai and Kia announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Seoul city government and the Seoul Bus Transportation Association to commercialize Level 4 autonomous city buses and build an industrial ecosystem.
 
The agreement aims to facilitate the early commercialization of Level 4 autonomous city buses through trials and operations in Seoul.
 
The Seoul city government will support the establishment of policies and regulatory improvements related to the introduction of autonomous city buses, as well as promote the sharing of AI-based learning data. The Seoul Bus Transportation Association will assist in the transition of transportation companies to autonomous city buses and provide support for personnel and infrastructure.
 
Hyundai and Kia will develop and supply specialized autonomous buses optimized for autonomous driving systems and provide a platform for managing the vehicles operated by transportation companies, laying the groundwork for the commercialization of autonomous city buses.
 
The specialized autonomous buses will feature standardized sensor configurations and reliable dual components, provided in a platform form. This will allow autonomous developers to validate and develop technology in a more stable environment while ensuring operational continuity for transportation companies. Additionally, standardized data collection will create a favorable environment for the development of autonomous driving technology.
 
Furthermore, Hyundai and Kia will establish a new management platform to oversee the real-time operation of autonomous buses during this trial project. This platform will offer various functions to effectively manage real-time operations, monitor emergency situations, and respond to in-vehicle hazards.
 
Park Min-woo, President of Hyundai and Kia's Autonomous Vehicle Platform Division, stated, "It is significant that we are developing autonomous driving technology into a public transportation service that citizens can use with confidence. I expect that the commercialization of Level 4 autonomous city buses will serve as a new growth foundation for the autonomous driving industry."
 
Meanwhile, Hyundai and Kia are advancing the development of autonomous driving technology that can scale from Level 2 to Level 4 robotaxis in collaboration with NVIDIA.