Hyundai, Kia sign deal to test Level 4 self-driving heavy trucks on logistics routes
In short
Hyundai Motor and Kia said on 20 October they signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Glovis, Maseuoto (마스오토) and Raideupeulleokseu (라이드플럭스) to test Level 4 self-driving heavy trucks on real logistics routes. Two test trucks are to be supplied early next year, and testing is to run through the end of next year on a roughly 100 km and a roughly 400 km route.
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Hyundai Motor and Kia said on 20 October they signed a memorandum of understanding at the Namyang Technical Research Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. The other parties are Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Glovis and the self-driving software companies Maseuoto (마스오토) and Raideupeulleokseu (라이드플럭스). The agreement covers a Level 4 self-driving truck logistics transport demonstration. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
According to the reports, the agreement is meant to run Level 4 heavy trucks on real logistics routes of Hyundai Motor Group. The aim is to verify vehicle control technology and how well it works with the self-driving systems, and to gather the data needed for later commercialisation. Chosun Ilbo described Level 4 as a stage at which a vehicle can drive itself without driver intervention under specific conditions. Yonhap, citing the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said it means fully autonomous driving in which the system responds even in an emergency and no driver needs to be aboard. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Hyundai Motor and Kia have begun developing two test vehicles, one hydrogen-electric Eksieonteu (엑시언트) truck and one Eksieonteu truck. Each is to carry a custom controller and a vehicle interface for linking to the self-driving system, and the vehicles are to be supplied early next year. Maeil Business gave the date as early 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Testing is to run until the end of next year, which Maeil Business gave as the end of 2027, in two transport settings. One is a route of about 100 km mixing highway and city roads, and the other is a long-distance route of about 400 km, mainly on highways. Yonhap put the total at about 500 km. Maseuoto and Raideupeulleokseu are to fit the self-driving systems to the vehicles, while Hyundai Mobis and Hyundai Glovis support the operation using existing logistics routes. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Hyundai Motor and Kia said they would use the data to improve vehicle control and safety redundancy technology for Level 4 heavy trucks. The outlets described safety redundancy as technology in which a backup system takes over the function if part of a system fails, keeping the vehicle in a safe state. They said it matters for heavy trucks that spend much time on long-distance and night runs. The companies also plan to combine their own development with outside cooperation to build base technology that can work with different self-driving systems. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Park Sang-hyun (박상현), a Hyundai Motor and Kia vice president in charge of commercial LCM, said self-driving trucks are key future mobility that can raise the safety and efficiency of logistics transport. He said the cooperation would secure the vehicle control technology and operating data needed in real logistics settings, and that the companies would put in place the technical basis for commercialising Level 4 heavy trucks in stages. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily noted that Hyundai Motor and Kia signed a memorandum with the Seoul city government on 1 October on commercialising Level 4 self-driving city buses and building an industrial ecosystem, and had started developing specialised vehicles and a control platform. Newsis wrote that commercial Level 4 self-driving for heavy trucks is regarded as a key option for easing the shortage of truck drivers and for improving long-distance transport efficiency. [ 2 , 3 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The companies say the data will be used to prepare commercial use of Level 4 heavy trucks and to improve vehicle control and safety redundancy technology. Newsis wrote that commercialising such trucks is regarded as a key option for easing the shortage of truck drivers and improving long-distance transport efficiency.
Key facts
- Hyundai Motor and Kia signed the memorandum at the Namyang Technical Research Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, and announced it on 20 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- The other signatories are Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Glovis, and the self-driving software companies Maseuoto (마스오토) and Raideupeulleokseu (라이드플럭스). [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Hyundai Motor and Kia have begun developing two test vehicles, one hydrogen-electric Eksieonteu (엑시언트) truck and one Eksieonteu truck, to be supplied early next year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- Testing is to run until the end of next year on two routes: about 100 km of mixed highway and city road, and about 400 km of mainly highway long-distance road. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Maseuoto and Raideupeulleokseu are to fit the self-driving systems, while Hyundai Mobis and Hyundai Glovis support the operation using existing logistics routes. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Data from the tests is to be used to improve vehicle control and safety redundancy technology for Level 4 heavy trucks. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Hyundai Motor and Kia said they signed a memorandum on a Level 4 self-driving truck logistics transport demonstration with Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Glovis, Maseuoto and Raideupeulleokseu. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- The two test trucks, a hydrogen-electric Eksieonteu and an Eksieonteu, are to be supplied early next year with custom controllers and vehicle interfaces for linking to the self-driving systems. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- Testing is to take place by the end of next year on a roughly 100 km mixed highway and city route and a roughly 400 km mainly highway route. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Hyundai Mobis and Hyundai Glovis are to support the testing using existing logistics routes. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- When Level 4 heavy trucks might be put into commercial use. The documents give no date. Park Sang-hyun said only that the technical basis would be prepared in stages.
- Which test vehicle each software company will equip. The documents say the companies will fit the systems to the vehicles but do not say who gets which truck.
- Where the test routes run. The documents give only the lengths and road types of the two routes, not their locations.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Asia Economy published a report that Hyundai Motor and Kia were starting commercialisation tests of Level 4 self-driving heavy trucks. [ 1 ]
- Chosun Ilbo and Newsis published reports on the memorandum signed at the Namyang Technical Research Center. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Yonhap published its report, describing about 500 km of test routes through the end of next year. [ 5 ]