Kakao Mobility to Integrate Seoul Autonomous Driving Services under 'Kakao T'

"Use All Autonomous Driving Services with Just Kakao T"

Kakao Mobility announced on the 26th that it has been finally selected as the private operator of Seoul's autonomous vehicle transportation platform and will start providing services. Accordingly, all autonomous driving services operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government will be integrated and offered through the 'Kakao T' app.

First, the demand-responsive 'Autonomous Driving DRT' service currently operating in three areas?Cheonggyecheon, Yeouido, and Sangam?is linked with the existing call app 'TAP!' through the 'Seoul Autonomous Car' icon - 'Autonomous Driving DRT' in the full view within the Kakao T app. The plan is to transfer data within this year and provide the service inside the Kakao T app.

Kakao Mobility will begin integrated operation of Seoul's autonomous driving transportation platform on 'Kakao T'.
[Image=Kakao Mobility]

Additionally, Seoul's first vehicle-hailing service, 'Seoul Autonomous Car,' will make its debut on Kakao T starting from the 26th. In collaboration with autonomous driving technology company SWM (Sdoubleuem), it will operate during late-night hours on weekdays (from 11 PM to 5 AM) between major subway stations in Gangnam-gu (Bongeunsa Station, Sinnonhyeon Station, Yangjae Station, Hakyeoul Station, and Guryong Station).

The vehicle-hailing 'Seoul Autonomous Car' will be piloted with a total of three autonomous vehicles from SWM. The pilot period is free of charge, and users can access it by selecting 'Call Seoul Autonomous Car' within the 'Seoul Autonomous Car' icon. Since it is a vehicle call brokerage method, it is also possible to select the taxi icon within the Kakao T app, set the departure and destination within the usage area, and then choose the 'Seoul Autonomous Car' option to hail a vehicle. This option is only displayed when there are available vehicles nearby, and up to three passengers can board each vehicle.

Moreover, the route-based 'Autonomous Driving Bus' provides route and stop information in connection with the Kakao Bus app. It currently offers operational information for the 'Late-night Autonomous Driving Bus' running between Dongdaemun and Hapjeong and the 'Cheongwadae Autonomous Driving Bus' operating near the Blue House. Information for the 'Dawn Companion Autonomous Driving Bus,' which Seoul City will launch in October this year, will also be applied. As a result, all autonomous driving-related services provided by Seoul City will be integrated and offered within the Kakao T app by the end of this year.

Jang Seong-wook, head of Kakao Mobility's Future Mobility Research Center, said, "We expect that the accessibility of autonomous driving services for Seoul citizens will increase through the Kakao T app," adding, "Operating the autonomous driving platform in Seoul, where the technological application difficulty is high, will also enhance our own technological completeness."