Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Launch 'Autonomous City Bus' Initiative with Seoul City

Commercialization of Level 4 Autonomous City Buses

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia are joining forces with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to build an industrial ecosystem for autonomous city buses.

On October 1, 2026, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Seoul City Hall with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Bus Transport Association for the commercialization of Level 4 autonomous city buses and the establishment of the corresponding industrial ecosystem. The signing ceremony was attended by key figures, including Seohun Oh, Mayor of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Minwoo Park, President and Head of Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) at Hyundai Motor and Kia, and Junghwan Kim, Chairman of the Seoul Bus Transport Association.

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 1st at Seoul City Hall with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Bus Transport Association to commercialize Level 4 autonomous city buses and establish an industrial ecosystem. From left, Minwoo Park, President and Head of the Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division at Hyundai Motor Company and Kia, Seohun Oh, Mayor of Seoul, and Junghwan Kim, Chairman of the Seoul Bus Transport Association, are posing for a commemorative photo. Hyundai Motor Company

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will support the development of policies and improvement of regulations related to the introduction of autonomous city buses, as well as promote the sharing of AI-based learning data and other initiatives. The Seoul Bus Transport Association plans to collaborate on transitioning bus operators to autonomous city buses, and to provide support with both manpower and infrastructure.

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia will take the lead in laying the groundwork for commercializing autonomous city buses by developing and supplying buses optimized for the integration of autonomous driving systems, and by providing platforms capable of vehicle control and management.

The specialized autonomous buses developed by Hyundai Motor and Kia will feature standardized sensor configurations and highly reliable redundant components, and will be offered as platform-type vehicles. This approach will allow autonomous driving technology developers to conduct verification and development in a more stable environment, while enabling bus operators to secure operational continuity and improve efficiency. Furthermore, standardized data collection will become possible, creating a more favorable environment for the development of autonomous driving technologies.

The centralized control platform for real-time management of autonomous buses will offer a variety of functions, not only enabling real-time monitoring of bus operation but also effectively managing emergency situations and responding to onboard safety incidents.

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia plan to use this system to collect autonomous driving service operation data and link it with the Seoul bus system, thereby spearheading the creation of a data-driven autonomous driving industry ecosystem in Seoul.

Minwoo Park stated, "It is highly significant that autonomous driving technology will be developed into a public transportation service that citizens can use with peace of mind," adding, "The commercialization of Level 4 autonomous city buses is expected to serve as a foundation for new growth in the nation’s autonomous driving industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.