Hyundai's driverless taxis are now rolling out its next-generation autonomous technology in the streets of the capital city of South Korea, Seoul, in its pop culture famous district, Gangnam.
The South Korean giant automaker, Hyundai, has been gearing up on its self-driving tech since 2021.
In fact, as per a news story by Inside EVs, the renowned carmaker started showcasing the Level 4 autonomous feature of the all-new Hyundai Ioniq 5 last year.
Hyundai's Driverless Taxis
In 2022, the self-driving technology of Hyundai is on its next level.
The driverless vehicle of the South Korean automaker, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, hits the busy streets of Gangnam as a passenger auto.
The rollout of the Ioniq as a passenger taxi is part of its new trial service of driverless ride-hailing in the bustling district of the vibrant city of Seoul.
Hyundai and the officials from South Korea made the new ride-hailing service possible. The all-new service in town aptly goes by the name RoboRide. It capitalizes on the Level 4 self-driving functions of Ioniq 5.
The level of autonomy that Hyundai has impressively achieved in its electric vehicle allows the Ioniq 5 to stroll in the packed streets of Gangnam, sans the need for a driver.
But to ensure the safety of its passengers, the RoboRide service still includes a "safety driver," according to a recent report by UPI.
The giant carmaker states that "RoboRide vehicles will perceive, make decisions and control its own driving status, while its safety driver will only intervene under limited conditions."
Inside EVs notes that Hyundai fails to give details when the need for a safety driver would stop. However, the automaker only mentioned that the service could only receive up to three passengers in total.
While Hyundai was behind the self-driving tech that made the service possible, the South Korean giant joined forces with a startup, Jin Mobility. The latter developed the ride-hailing app for the new driverless taxi platform.
Hyundai Driverless Taxis Gangnam Style
The Mayor of the capital city of Korea, Seoul, Oh Se-hoon, said that the trial of the self-driving service should give early real-world data for the emerging autonomous technology.
The Seoul mayor said that the initial trial of the service takes place in the busy streets of Gangnam, where human-driven delivery motorcycles and taxis fill the roadways.
Oh further adds that the bustling district of Seoul is not a random choice for the trails. The mayor shares that "in complex transportation environments like Gangnam, there are many people who drive unpredictably," which could test the abilities of the autonomous service.
