Kakao Mobility Takes 2-Track Approach to a Self-Driving Future   

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  Kakao Mobility is preparing to commercialize Level 4 autonomous vehicles by developing its own driving technology and enhancing its service platform. Level 4 vehicles can operate without human intervention under certain conditions.

  By the end of this year, the company plans to introduce end-to-end (E2E) AI technology to late-night autonomous vehicles in Seoul’s Gangnam district. The system will use a single AI model to recognize road conditions and make driving decisions. A rule-based safety evaluator will then check each decision.

  Since 2024, passengers have utilized Seoul’s autonomous driving services through the Kakao T app. Among users of Gangnam’s late-night service, 97% accessed it without installing another app. The vehicles have an operating rate of 84.3%, while the service has received an average rating of 4.97 out of 5.

  Autonomous vehicles may face situations that AI cannot handle alone, including severe weather, traffic signal failures, and road closures. Therefore, the company is also developing an integrated control system to manage multiple vehicles from a single center. It will provide real-time monitoring, 24-hour customer support, remote assistance, and on-site emergency response.

  According to Kakao Mobility, commercial autonomous driving requires more than advanced AI. Reliable monitoring and rapid responses to severe weather, traffic signal failures, and road closures will also be essential.