Kakao Mobility said on the 16th that it signed a strategic partnership agreement with Kia for the supply of Autonomous Driving service–dedicated vehicles (PBVs) and technological cooperation.
Through this agreement, the two companies will cooperate on the development and supply of Autonomous Driving service–dedicated vehicles, joint development of technologies for operating Autonomous Driving services, and expansion of the related ecosystem. Based on technology and operational experience accumulated in the domestic mobility market, they plan to build an Autonomous Driving service model that can be used in global markets.
A core area of cooperation is the development and supply of PBVs for Autonomous Driving services. When Kakao Mobility presents vehicle specifications required for Autonomous Driving technology and service operations, Kia will develop and supply dedicated vehicles to match. Within the year, Kia plans to first supply vehicles needed for Kakao Mobility's Autonomous Driving pilot program and a "dev kit," an integration device that links Autonomous Driving systems. The dev kit is a device that supports interface integration between external vehicle control software and Kia vehicles.
In the mid to long term, the two companies will jointly develop PBVs specialized for commercial services by using Autonomous Driving vehicle operation data. Kakao Mobility plans to directly integrate the complete vehicle system with Autonomous Driving software to advance vehicle control technology.
They will also push to develop technologies to improve the safety and operational efficiency of Autonomous Driving services. The two companies plan to jointly research and validate remote driving technology within depots, wireless charging, and interior and exterior vehicle displays for communication between unmanned vehicles and users.
Ryu Geung-seon, CEO of Kakao Mobility, said, "The strategic partnership between Kia and Kakao Mobility will be a turning point that will change the landscape of the Autonomous Driving industry," adding, "By combining Kakao Mobility's platform capabilities and Autonomous Driving technology with Kia's world-class vehicle manufacturing technology, we will accelerate internalization of technology, lead the related ecosystem, and secure competitiveness to lead the global market."