Hyundai Motor and Kia to pilot Level 4 Self-Driving Trucks in Korea

Hyundai Motor Co. and its sister company Kia Corp. have entered into a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai Mobis Co., Hyundai Glovis Co., and autonomous-driving startups Mars Auto and RideFlux to launch Level 4 autonomous-truck trials. The agreement was signed at the Hyundai Motor Group’s Namyang R&D Center in Hwaseong, southwest of Seoul. Under the plan, the firms will build and provide two Xcient trucks, one of which will run on a hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain, beginning early next year.

The pilot will span roughly 500 km, comprising a 100-km route that mixes highways and city streets and a 400-km stretch on a long-distance highway. Level 4 capability allows the trucks to operate without a driver, even in emergencies, within defined operational zones.