Raphael Thys
Hyundai has started testing self-driving technology with robotaxis which will be a stepping stone for the South Korean giant towards commercialising autonomous driving technology.
"We've been developing autonomous driving technology for all to move around based on our philosophy of general safety and selective convenience," said Jang Woong-jun, head of Hyundai Motor Group's autonomous driving center, during a press conference at Seoul Mobility Show 2021.
Hyundai is motoring towards level 4 self-driving technology which means that a car can drive on its own without any assistance in certain conditions. Most players in the self-driving space strive to achieve level 5 which would mean no human intervention will be needed.
Hyundai is even studying the feasibility of launching IONIQ 5 EV in India as a niche flagship offering
Hyundai is leveraging Motional which is a major player in the autonomous driving paradigm. It also has a partnership with LYFT in the US which runs some robotaxis as a part of its ride-hailing service. Lyft wants to launch a level 4 self-driving taxi service in the US by 2023.
The details for the robotaxi service will be unveiled next year. Hyundai has shared a video that shows the vehicle can read traffic lights, change lanes on its own, make U-turns autonomously, turn left or right, and also recognise obstacles on the main road.
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Hyundai has outfitted its Ioniq 5 EV with Motional's self-driving tech on Lyft's platform which will form the basis of the robotaxi service. The Ioniq 5 is noted for being one of the best EVs on the market which has been based on the iconic Pony hatchback which was Hyundai's very first car from the 70s. Motional is Hyundai's subsidiary for self driving technology.
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