HYUNDAI Motor to Operate Self-Driving Taxis at Research Center
Hyundai Motor Group plans to operate self-driving taxis at its research center in Namyang, Gyeonggi Province, from later this month, a local newspaper reported on July 6.
MoneyToday, citing unnamed company officials, reported that a total of five autonomous taxis, based on Hyundai’s fuel-cell sport utility vehicle Tucson ix and the Ioniq hybrid compact, will be operated.
The Namyang center is located on a 346.5 square-meter site, equipped with a 64-kilometer test-driving road.
The taxis will be operated for employees commuting within the campus. Users can make a ride reservation via a smartphone app.
A group of Uber researchers visited the center last month possibly to seek partnership with Hyudai that has been making a big push on autonomous driving.
Late last year, the group acquired driving licenses in Nevada, US, to operate its self-driving cars based on Hyundai’s fuel-cell SUV Tucson and Kia’s full-electric compact Soul.
Hyundai also plans to unveil a self-driving version of its latest electric model Ioniq during the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas next year.
