Zero Accidents After 5,000 Rides in Gangnam... Autonomous Taxi Excels at Lane Changes [New Transportation Refugee Report] 13

The Future of Seoul - The Future of Transportation
Late-Night Autonomous Taxis Operate in Gangnam
About 5,000 Rides Since First Launch
"Safety is the Top Priority as Lives are at Stake"
Seoul Introduces Autonomous Buses
Additional Early Morning Bus Routes Planned

The steering wheel moved freely without any driver intervention. The vehicle accelerated and stopped according to the traffic signals. When making a right turn, it signaled and gradually moved into position. The autonomous taxi developed by domestic self-driving company SWM operated as if a human taxi driver was behind the wheel. Currently, a total of three autonomous taxis are operating in areas such as Yeoksam, Daechi, Apgujeong, and Sinsa-dong in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The main advantage of the Seoul autonomous taxi is "safety." Since its first operation on September 26 last year, there have been approximately 5,000 rides, but to date, there have been zero accidents.

Seoul's autonomous taxi operating with self-driving technology. Photo by Lee Jungyoon

Technological advancements are transforming the future of transportation in Seoul. The phenomenon of "taxi refugees," or people stranded late at night waiting for a taxi, has disappeared. Seoul's autonomous taxis are even more popular during nighttime hours when demand is highest. The customer base is diverse, ranging from office workers returning home after company dinners to students attending academies in Daechi-dong. Users can set their departure and destination points in the KakaoT application to hail a vehicle.

Seoul autonomous taxi developed by domestic autonomous driving company SWM. Photo by Lee Jungyoon

Kim Gihyuk, CEO of SWM, said, "We have been operating for about 10 months in Gangnam, where there are many cars and people, but there has not been a single accident," and added, "Since cars are directly related to human life, we place the highest priority on safety." While making a U-turn in accordance with the signal, the vehicle naturally stopped when an oncoming car appeared. When the car ahead pulled over to the shoulder, it slowed down, and its lane changes were skillful. It accelerated up to a maximum speed of 50 km/h and drove stably even on eight-lane roads. With 12 cameras and 8 LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors, it recognized and displayed not only vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles on the road but also pedestrians on the sidewalk. The system also displayed the current operation of the steering angle, accelerator, and brake, as well as the status of the traffic signals as recognized by the cameras.

The autonomous bus Saebyeok A160 is operating. Seoul City

The Seoul Metropolitan Government aims to establish autonomous vehicles as a safe mode of transportation and thereby enhance mobility convenience. Autonomous vehicles are in service not only in Gangnam but also in the Sangam area during weekday daytime hours, with three vehicles operating. Autonomous buses have also been introduced and are currently in operation. There are a total of five routes, with the most notable being the 50 km round-trip route between Dobongsan Metropolitan Transfer Center and Yeongdeungpo Station, which operates from 3:30 a.m. to accommodate early morning workers. These buses serve as transportation for citizens such as cleaning workers and security guards who commute early or return home late. Passengers can board using a transportation card, and for safety reasons, standing is prohibited; like a seat-only bus, if there are no available seats, additional passengers are not allowed to board. Since November 26 last year, a portion of the existing Route 160 has been shortened and operated as a new service. The letter "A" for "Autonomous" was added, and it was named the early morning A160 route. A Seoul city official said, "For autonomous taxis, we are considering increasing the number of vehicles operating in Gangnam and Sangam and transitioning from a free to a paid service," adding, "We are also working to increase the number of early morning autonomous bus routes from the current one to four within this year."