Kia said on the 28th that it will take part in a pilot program for the Universal Design Taxi starting on the 1st of next month.
The Universal Design Taxi is designed so that not only wheelchair users but also general passengers can use it conveniently, unlike call taxis for people with disabilities.
The pilot program will be conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government for the first time among local governments nationwide, and Kia's PV5 WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) will be used.
The PV5 WAV is a model that embodies Kia's commitment to providing greater freedom of movement for transportation-vulnerable people.
It is the first mass-produced electric vehicle in Korea to apply universal design, and Hyundai Motor Group's PBV (purpose-built vehicle) platform (EGMP.S) is applied to provide a low and wide interior space.
A side-boarding method was also applied in consideration of the convenience of wheelchair users. The vehicle is equipped with a device to secure a wheelchair, and it is designed so a caregiver can ride in the third row to assist.
The pilot program runs through December this year, and 12 PV5 WAVs will be deployed. People with severe walking disabilities will be prioritized for dispatch, and general passengers can use it in the same way and at the same expense as existing mid-size taxis.
Customer data such as usage records and satisfaction collected during the pilot period will be used to determine whether to expand the operation of the Universal Design Taxi in the future.
Kia and the Seoul Metropolitan Government expect that the Universal Design Taxi pilot program will resolve the shortage of call taxis for people with disabilities and effectively respond to the mobility demand of transportation-vulnerable people.
A Kia official said, "Through cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, we will take the lead in building an innovative mobility ecosystem where the boundaries between people with and without disabilities are broken down and everyone can travel freely and safely."