– MOLIT Selected for 'K-Autonomous Driving Cooperation Model'… Focus on Technology Development for Autonomous Driving Companies
– Integrated support for vehicle supply, insurance, and platform operations… Accident compensation up to 100 billion won
– Demonstration to begin in Gwangsan, Buk-gu, and Seo-gu in the second half of this year… Establishment of a development-demonstration-production-certification system
Hyundai Motor and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance are participating in Gwangju City's 'K-Autonomous Driving Cooperation Model,' which was designated as Korea's first 'Autonomous Driving Demonstration City.'
The core of this cooperation model is to support autonomous driving companies so they can focus on technology development by providing an integrated supply of demonstration vehicles, dedicated insurance support, and a service operating system. By linking and operating it with the Gwangju Autonomous Driving Demonstration City project, the plan is to enhance the competitiveness of autonomous driving AI technology and services.
Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kang Ki-jung) announced on the 9th that Hyundai Motor Company, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, and Hyundai Motor Company have been selected as the automobile manufacturer, insurance company, and transportation platform company, respectively, for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport's 'K-Autonomous Driving Cooperation Model' and will support the Gwangju autonomous driving demonstration city project.
Hyundai Motor, selected as the vehicle manufacturer, plans to develop and supply dedicated autonomous driving vehicles (SDVs) optimized for demonstrating autonomous driving technology, and provide on-site support with vehicle maintenance and development personnel.
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, selected as the insurer, will provide a compensation limit of 100 billion won per autonomous driving accident and a total of 300 billion won annually, and will also support specialized services for autonomous driving companies, such as Event Data Recorder (EDR) data analysis, accident prevention consulting, and IT security consulting.
Hyundai Motor, selected as a transportation platform company, plans to establish a service operation system encompassing vehicle control, dispatch management, and operational data analysis through the integration of autonomous vehicles and the platform. By performing automatic edge case collection, operational quality analysis, and vehicle control support based on real-time vehicle sensor data and operational information, it will support the technology development of autonomous driving companies.
Meanwhile, the autonomous driving demonstration city is the nation's first project in which the entire city is designated as an autonomous vehicle pilot operation zone and a mega-sandbox. With a state budget of 610 billion won, there are plans to operate 200 autonomous vehicles in stages starting in the second half of this year.
The demonstration route covers the entire city of Gwangju, but operations will initially begin in outlying areas with relatively low traffic volume and gradually expand into the city center. Once safety is sufficiently ensured, plans are also underway to offer free rides for citizens to experience firsthand.
First, once the entire city of Gwangju is designated as a pilot operation zone this coming April, demonstrations will begin in parts of Gwangsan-gu, Buk-gu, and Seo-gu in the second half of this year. Next year, the plan is to expand the demonstration to a city-wide scale, including Seo-gu, Nam-gu, and Dong-gu, and adding major locations such as Chosun University Hospital.
The Gwangju Autonomous Driving Demonstration City initiative is being promoted with a focus on ▲a demonstration environment free from city-level regulations ▲the provision of dedicated vehicles for technology development ▲the securing of large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) training data ▲support for control and insurance within the demonstration city ▲and support for mutual growth and cooperation among the demonstration cities.
Gwangju City plans to build a future industrial ecosystem that encompasses development, demonstration, production, and certification, going beyond mere autonomous driving demonstrations, by linking the autonomous driving demonstration city project with the AI Mobility National Pilot Smart City and the Physical AI-based Future Car Industry Innovation Cluster development projects.
Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung stated, “The Gwangju Autonomous Driving Demonstration City project goes beyond technology demonstration to create a city model where autonomous driving services are actually implemented in the daily lives of citizens,” adding, “We will accelerate the commercialization of autonomous driving technology and expand the AI mobility industry ecosystem through cooperation with private companies such as Hyundai Motor Company and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance.”