Seoul targets half of new vehicles as autonomous in 2035

SEOUL: South Korea is targeting to commercialise a Level 4 autonomous vehicle in 2027 and to have half of newly launched vehicles as Level 4 models by 2035, the country's transport ministry said today.

South Korea aims to become the world's third country to commercialise a Level 3 autonomous vehicle this year after the United States and Japan, reported Yonhap citing the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as saying.

"To achieve the aim, the government will overhaul the existing transportation systems, and set up safety standards and insurance programmes for autonomous cars to provide Level 4 autonomous bus services as well (by 2027)," the statement said.

Hyundai Mobis Co., a major affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, introduced Level 4 self-driving automation technology in its concept M.Vision at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2020.

At Level 4, a vehicle can drive itself under limited conditions and will not operate if all required conditions are not satisfied. At Level 5, a vehicle's automated driving features can drive under any conditions.


To support the plan, the government will set up real-time telecommunications systems for communication between autonomous cars on roads, and between autonomous cars and the electric vehicle infrastructure in major cities and roads by 2030, the statement said.

The ministry said it will initially establish the real-time telecom systems in 110,000km of roads by 2030.

The government also seeks the commercialisation of urban air mobility services in the metropolitan area by 2025.

The country's three major wireless services companies — SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. — said last month they will take part in a government-led demonstration programme that will test urban air mobility vehicle safety and traffic management capabilities for commercial services.

Urban air mobility is widely considered the next big thing in aviation amid concerns for the worsening of traffic congestion and air pollution.

Most urban air mobility vehicles in development are being designed to run on electricity and travel at low altitudes in urban areas.


In July, Hyundai Motor Co., another affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, showcased its UAM technologies at Britain's Farnborough Airshow through its wholly-owned US  urban air mobility unit, Supernal.

Supernal unveiled a peep into the future electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft concept, its design and technologies.

Supernal aims to commercialise the eVOTL aircraft in 2028 while collaborating with more than 50 companies, including affiliates of Hyundai Motor Group, to help ease related regulations and establish the infrastructure for UAMs.

Morgan Stanley forecast the global UAM market will grow up to US$1.47 trillion by 2040, jumping from US$7 billion won in 2020.