Kia(000270) said on the 23rd that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with KT and USM to promote the commercialization of remote driving technology. The aim is to push ahead with the commercialization of a remote driving service using the PBV (purpose-built vehicle) PV5 that Kia released last year.
Remote driving is a technology that operates and controls a driverless car remotely from an external control center via a wireless network. It can send a car to a user's front door when a ride is needed and move the car to a separate space after drop-off.
It can also be used as an alternative technology to safely move a car when an Autonomous Driving vehicle breaks down or has a malfunction, and in areas with insufficient living infrastructure, it can be used as a mobile unmanned mart or unmanned library.
Through this agreement, the three companies plan to launch a PV5-based remote driving service within this year. To that end, Kia will handle vehicle and technology development, KT will support communications infrastructure and network quality management, and USM will handle remote driving technology control and system management.
They also plan to continue cooperation to build an unmanned mobility ecosystem by using data secured during the operation of the remote driving service to advance Autonomous Driving technology, conducting joint promotions for the remote driving service, discovering and supporting use cases of remote driving technology, and establishing an institutional foundation.
Kia expects this agreement will not only accelerate the popularization of unmanned mobility services but also serve as an important foundation for the future standardization of the domestic Autonomous Driving industry and the establishment of regulatory policies.
The signing ceremony was held that day at Kia's headquarters in Yangjae-dong, Seoul. Attendees included Executive Director Kang Joo-yeop of Kia's New Business Planning Office, Executive Director Seo Sang-gyu, head of KT's Enterprise Business 1, and CEO Hyun Young-jin of USM.
Executive Director Kang Joo-yeop said, "With this agreement, we will establish a cooperative foundation that can accelerate the commercialization of remote driving technology, build an unmanned vehicle ecosystem through a roadmap that connects remote driving to Autonomous Driving, and add differentiated value unique to Kia PBVs."