Autonomous A2Z Surpasses 100 Permitted Autonomous Vehicles, Logs 1.15 Million km

Fleet reaches 101 vehicles after first temporary operation permit in 2018
Nationwide deployment expands public access to autonomous driving services

Autonomous A2Z said on October 21 that the cumulative number of vehicles granted temporary operation permits for autonomous driving had exceeded 100.

A temporary operation permit for an autonomous vehicle is issued by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to allow the vehicle to be driven on public roads for testing and research. Vehicles must meet safety requirements, and even vehicles of the same model must receive separate permits individually. The process is designed to verify the safety and performance of the technology in real traffic conditions and collect driving data.

After receiving its first permit in 2018, A2Z secured additional permits in October this year, bringing its total to 101 vehicles. In June 2020, it also received the 100th temporary operation permit issued for an autonomous vehicle in Korea and was presented with the permit certificate by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Autonomous A2Z surpasses 100 cumulative temporary operating permits for autonomous vehicles. Autonomous A2Z

Of the permitted vehicles, 14 are equipped with the company’s self-developed Level 4 unmanned autonomous driving platform, “ROii (Roi),” while 87 are converted vehicles. Of these, 17 are owned or operated by public institutions, companies, universities, and research institutions, with A2Z providing support for installing autonomous driving systems and obtaining permits.

By region, Sejong had the most vehicles, with 26, followed by Daegu with 13 and Anyang with 12. Vehicles have also been deployed in Seoul, Goyang, Gwangju, Busan, Ulsan, Pangyo, Hwaseong, and Haenam. The company has verified its technology in diverse conditions, from urban areas, arterial roads, and bus rapid transit (BRT) systems to late-night and early-morning hours, and has operated services for the public.

The company is also pursuing overseas business. It has entered Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Japan, where it is conducting or preparing for local trials. Its cumulative autonomous driving distance in Korea and overseas stands at 1.15 million km. A2Z is using data gathered on public roads to advance its Level 4 unmanned autonomous driving technology and verify its safety.

A2Z plans to pursue the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s Gwangju Autonomous Driving Demonstration City Development Project, scheduled for later this year, and expand its domestic testing areas and autonomous driving services. It also aims to identify opportunities for local trials and commercialization overseas and accelerate the launch of commercial services.

CEO Han Jihyeong said, “Obtaining temporary operation permits for a cumulative total of 100 vehicles means more than just increasing the number of vehicles; it signifies that we have accumulated autonomous driving experience across diverse regions and road conditions. We will focus on developing hybrid end-to-end (E2E) autonomous driving technology to improve safety and overall performance, so that people in Korea and abroad can use autonomous vehicles conveniently and safely, anytime and anywhere.”

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