Hyundai Motor Company has joined hands with the taxi industry to establish a demand-response based integrated mobility service platform.
On the 6th, at the headquarters of the National Taxi Federation located in Gangnam, Seoul, Hyundai Motor’s TaaS Division President Song Chang-hyun, National Taxi Transport Business Association Chairman Park Bok-kyu, and other representatives from both sides attended the signing ceremony of the ‘Strategic Partnership Agreement for Demand-Response Based Integrated MaaS platform and Development of the Taxi Industry.’
[MaaS: Mobility as a Service. A service that provides optimal route guidance, reservations, payments, etc. for all transportation modes by linking various modes of transport like a single transportation service.]
This MOU was driven by the aim of expanding Hyundai’s demand-response mobility platform, ‘Shuckle’, and building an integrated MaaS platform. The two sides plan to cooperate to encourage sustainable development of the taxi industry within the platform ecosystem.
Hyundai aims to integrate the taxi service into the Shuckle platform, which already includes demand-response transportation services compatible with public transport transfers and shared personal mobility, allowing users to access more diverse transportation options with just one Shuckle app.
In this process, they will implement systems that allow the taxi industry to generate revenue, such as free taxi-hailing services and integrated fare plans, and will support various win-win strategies, including the launching of new services and the development of business models within the taxi industry.
The National Taxi Federation, which consists of 1,654 corporate taxi companies nationwide, plans to actively engage in providing services through the Shuckle platform and challenge new businesses.
Kim Soo-young, Executive Director of Hyundai MCS LAB, stated, “Hyundai’s Shuckle platform, which has the best DRT technology and experience in the country, aims to complete the integrated MaaS platform in collaboration with the national taxi transport operators, and Hyundai will continue to discover business opportunities with traditional transport operators to provide customers with the freedom of safe and convenient mobility.”
Chairman Park Bok-kyu of the National Taxi Federation remarked, “With the close cooperative relationship that has been established between the taxi industry and Hyundai, this MOU will open a new horizon for the transportation industry. In particular, by maintaining a solid partnership in the platform market such as Shuckle’s DRT service and MaaS project, we expect to greatly contribute to value creation and mutual growth within the taxi sector.”
Hyundai’s Shuckle, the first artificial intelligence-based demand-response transportation service launched in 2021, provides various mobility services, including shared scooters and autonomous robo-shuttles, and has enhanced connectivity with public transport by applying discounts for transfers to DRT services for the first time in the country for buses and subways.
Currently, the Shuckle service is being operated in cities like Sejong and Paju, and there are plans to expand the service area nationwide through discussions with various local governments.
Hyundai plans to evolve Shuckle into a MaaS platform that integrates not only taxi hailing but also future mobility means such as urban air mobility.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr