Seoul expands autonomous taxi services and plans 500 self-driving buses

Seoul is expanding its autonomous vehicle services, including a significant increase in self-driving taxis and a long-term plan for autonomous buses. The city has expanded its late-night autonomous taxi service in the Gangnam district from 7 to 19 vehicles. These taxis are operated by SWM and Kakao Mobility using electric vehicles from KGM and Kia, equipped with proprietary AI and sensor systems. While these vehicles currently require a safety driver to intervene during unexpected situations, the city plans to introduce Level 4 driverless taxis in the Sangam area this November.

In a broader strategic move, the Seoul Metropolitan Government aims to integrate autonomous buses into the regular public transportation network. The city plans to increase the number of autonomous buses from the current 16 to 500 by 2030, with a goal to begin replacing traditional city buses starting in 2029. Initial deployment will focus on bus-only lanes and late-night or early-morning services to address transportation gaps. The initiative also includes a comprehensive survey to identify areas lacking rapid transit access, defined as being more than 800 meters from subway stations or bus-only lanes.