Hyundai Motor is launching a new mobility service in collaboration with Sejong City that allows citizens to integrate the use of various public transportation methods based on AI technology.
Starting from July 1st, Hyundai announced the launch of the integrated transportation service app ‘Ieung,’ based on the SHUCLE platform, in Sejong City.
‘Ieung’ is an integrated transportation service designed to help citizens using public transport move quickly and conveniently. It expands on the existing demand-responsive transport (DRT) service called ‘SHUCLE’ already operational in Sejong City, tailored to the city’s traffic infrastructure and demand.
Unlike the previous SHUCLE platform, which only allowed the calling of demand-responsive buses, the Ieung app offers the option to call the ‘Ieung Bus’ or use bicycles, scooters, and taxis.
Customers using the Ieung app in Sejong City will no longer need to install multiple service-specific apps; they can integrate various mobility options through a single app.
The Ieung Bus, developed based on Hyundai’s AI technology, generates an optimal travel route in real time based on passenger demand. If passengers with similar routes reserve at the same time, the system automatically generates a detour and facilitates carpooling.
In addition, Hyundai plans to introduce a transportation pass called the ‘Ieung Pass’ with Sejong City starting in September.
The Ieung Pass is a monthly subscription public transport pass that can be used within the Ieung app. Subscribers will pay a monthly fee of 20,000 KRW and can receive up to 50,000 KRW in support for their public transport expenses, making public transport more economical for citizens.
This initiative aims to reduce the transport cost burden for users while increasing the public transportation usage rate, leading to improved traffic flow and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Meanwhile, Hyundai stated that with the launch of the Ieung service, they will conclude the pilot service of SHUCLE conducted in Sejong City and enter the official business phase of the integrated Mobility as a Service (MaaS).
This result stems from Hyundai’s efforts since 2021 to address Sejong City’s public transportation challenges through the operational pilot of the AI-based SHUCLE platform, leveraging data collected to promote public transport activation.
Over the past three years, the SHUCLE platform has recorded a total of 1.63 million cumulative passengers in Sejong’s living areas 1 and 2, helping citizens have easy and convenient mobility, thus recognized as a successful case in the regulatory sandbox of integrated transportation platforms.
Furthermore, the service operates 214 demand-responsive vehicles across 18 regions, including Sejong City, recording over 4.96 million cumulative passengers, leading efforts to solve public transportation issues in new towns, rural areas, industrial complexes, and agricultural-urban mixed regions.
Director Kim Soo-young of Hyundai’s SHUCLE Business Division stated, “Based on our operational experience with SHUCLE alongside Sejong City citizens since 2021, we are excited to offer tailored mobility solutions for Sejong City,” adding, “We will continue to collaborate with more local governments to enhance public transport activation through functionalities like vouchers and passes.”
By Jang Sang-ji daedusj@autodiary.kr