KG Mobility signed a memorandum of understanding with Autonomous A2Z on the 24th to collaborate on the development of self-driving systems.
The signing of this memorandum took place on the 20th, during the 2023 Korea Future Mobility Expo (2023 DIFA) held from the 19th (Thursday) to the 21st (Saturday) at Daegu EXCO. The event was attended by KG Mobility’s Director of the Technical Research Institute, Kwon Yong-il, and Autonomous A2Z’s CEO, Han Ji-hyung. Both parties explained that they agreed to collaborate to enhance the completeness of self-driving technology as well as secure future technological competitiveness based on their core capabilities in autonomous driving.
This MOU for the cooperative development of self-driving systems includes specific and practical technical cooperation and joint development details, such as the collaboration for the advancement of autonomous driving technology, joint development of SAE Level 2 driver assistance features, joint development of vehicles with SAE Level 3 (human-operated autonomous driving system), joint development of autonomous driving platforms under SAE Level 4 (driverless autonomous driving systems), cooperation in developing specifications for driver assistance and autonomous driving systems, and sharing components for the purpose of mass-producing autonomous vehicles.
Based on this cooperation with A2Z, KG Mobility has laid the groundwork for the advancement of its ADAS (level 2 driver assistance) brand, ‘DEEP CONTROL’, as well as the development of level 3 self-driving technologies.
In particular, the advancement of ‘DEEP CONTROL’, which supports simultaneous control of the vehicle’s acceleration/deceleration and steering mechanisms, not only offers a differentiated level of convenience and safety for the driver— replicating an experience close to fully autonomous driving—but also allows for the future expansion of KG Mobility’s self-driving service models, leveraging A2Z’s expertise in level 4 autonomous driving operation.
This technological collaboration is part of the autonomous driving roadmap announced by KG Mobility during a press briefing on September 21st, titled ‘KG Mobility’s Future Development Strategy’. KG Mobility plans to enhance the completeness of its autonomous driving technology by continuing to collaborate with key technology firms in various fields.
Meanwhile, A2Z is reportedly preparing for a new leap forward through close collaboration with KG Mobility, which possesses leading research and manufacturing capabilities. Recently, A2Z completed a series B funding of 34 billion won and unveiled an electric vehicle equipped with its self-developed autonomous driving software at the 2023 DIFA. This vehicle is set to be developed as a prototype in 2024, and if regulations related to level 4 autonomous driving are passed in 2025, it is expected to create a significant ripple effect in the global autonomous driving market.
Kwon Yong-il, Director of the Technical Research Institute at KG Mobility, stated, “The future autonomous driving market will not be characterized by the technological capabilities of a single company, but rather by the synergy and fusion of key technologies across various fields. Our cooperation and joint development with A2Z, the leading domestic autonomous driving software company, in this trend of technological advancement and change is an important turning point not only in securing KG Mobility’s competitiveness in autonomous driving but also in becoming a company that leads change and innovation through the expansion of our technological horizons.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr