Level 4 autonomous vehicles, which have automated systems that recognize and assess situations and control the vehicle, eliminating driver intervention even in emergencies, will begin pilot services in downtown Seoul next year.

Hyundai Motor Company unveiled its Level 4 Ioniq 5 autonomous vehicle at the press day event of the '2021 Seoul Mobility Show' held on the 25th and announced the status of autonomous vehicle technology development and operation plans.

The 'RoboRide' pilot service, which will be implemented in the autonomous vehicle pilot operation zone in downtown Seoul in the first half of next year, is a new concept mobility service by Hyundai Motor Company that provides passengers with transportation convenience using Level 4 autonomous vehicles.

By applying autonomous driving level 4 technology, the vehicle's automated system recognizes and judges the situation and controls the vehicle, and the driver does not need to intervene even in emergencies except in some situations such as when the road is temporarily blocked.

On this day, Hyundai Motor Company released a video showing the Nexo vehicle, equipped with autonomous driving level 4 technology, driving in the city center.

The video shows the Nexo autonomous vehicle driving in a crowded city center. It contains images of responding nimbly to traffic conditions.

Specifically, the vehicle is shown driving in conjunction with traffic signals, continuously changing lanes from lane 3 to lane 1, performing U-turns and left and right turns by identifying the locations of surrounding vehicles, changing lanes by recognizing parked vehicles on the road, and slowing down and stopping by recognizing vehicles cutting in, such as motorcycles, or pedestrians on the road.

“We will continue to develop autonomous driving technology that enables safe and convenient transportation in an increasingly complex road environment,” said Jang Woong-jun, executive vice president and head of Hyundai Motor Company’s autonomous driving division. “In the future, we plan to introduce not only Roboride and RoboShuttle, but also RoboDelivery, which improves logistics transportation efficiency, so that customers can experience the convenience of transportation through autonomous driving technology in their daily lives.”

Along with this, a rendering image of the Ioniq 5 autonomous vehicle, which will be put into pilot service next year, was released.

This model was developed by Hyundai Motor Company to suit the domestic autonomous driving environment, and reflects the design concept of the IONIQ 5, which provides customers with a new mobility experience rather than simply advancing technology.

Simon Rossby, Senior Vice President of Hyundai Styling, said, “The IONIQ 5, which inherits the bold design of the Pony, is the perfect companion to expand personal mobility into the realm of autonomous driving.” He added, “Following electrification, we will continue to reflect new design experiences and values through autonomous driving technology.”