FutureLink Partners with Humax Mobility and Konatus to Advance Robo-Taxi Services

FutureLink, a company specializing in autonomous driving, announced on January 2 that it has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Humax Mobility, a comprehensive mobility platform provider, and Konatus, a taxi-hailing service operator, to introduce and advance robo-taxi services.

Through this agreement, the three companies will gradually expand robo-taxi services centered around major metropolitan cities nationwide and jointly pursue an official vehicle service model in collaboration with local governments and public institutions.

The three parties agreed to identify 'coexistence business models' that can work alongside the existing transportation industry, and to strengthen their strategic cooperation framework to enhance social acceptance of robo-taxi commercialization and secure an early lead in the market. In particular, they plan to boost business competitiveness by sharing operational data.

FutureLink has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Humax Mobility and Konatus to advance the robo-taxi service. (From right) Jeong Seongmin, CEO of Humax Mobility; Cha Duwon, CEO of FutureLink; and Kim Kidong, CEO of Konatus, along with representatives from the three companies, pose for a commemorative photo. Photo by FutureLink

The specific areas of cooperation include: the introduction and phased expansion of robo-taxi services; sharing each company's know-how in business development, operations, and management; developing autonomous driving technology and taxi-hailing platforms; conducting research to optimize dispatch systems and algorithms; and jointly utilizing parking and charging infrastructure.

FutureLink, an autonomous driving specialist, recently demonstrated its technological capabilities by achieving 40,000 kilometers of accident-free Level 4 autonomous driving in the Gangnam area. In August, Konatus launched its new brand 'Turu Taxi' in the Gyeonggi and Gangwon regions, expanding its influence beyond the Seoul metropolitan area to become a nationwide platform.

Humax Mobility has introduced the cloud-based 'Mobility Hub Platform (MHP)' and the vision AI technology 'AI-PAS' through its parking operations subsidiary Hi Parking's brand 'Turu Parking.' The company manages 25 million vehicles annually across 290,000 parking spaces nationwide and possesses technology to control physical spaces using AI.

A FutureLink representative stated, "The three companies will maximize their respective expertise to jointly respond to business expansion," adding, "We expect the combination of Humax Mobility's infrastructure and maintenance network, Konatus's platform operation know-how, and FutureLink's autonomous driving technology to accelerate the commercialization of the domestic robo-taxi market."