KGM supports expansion of zone-based autonomous robo-taxi service in Gangnam

KG Mobility, known as KGM, said Wednesday it is working with SWM.ai to support the expansion of a zone-based autonomous robo-taxi service that SWM.ai operates in Gangnam-gu.

To meet steadily growing ridership demand, KGM is supplying additional second-generation autonomous robo-taxis — the Torres EVX — equipped with advanced autonomous driving technology for the Seoul Metropolitan Government-led "Gangnam Late-Night Autonomous Taxi" project, a zone-based robo-taxi service that expanded operations Aug. 20.

The newly added Torres EVX units reflect KGM's latest mobility technology, incorporating a range of advanced sensor systems, control technology and safety features. SWM.ai has been upgrading its autonomous driving AI using data accumulated through its existing robo-taxi operations, and by integrating that AI with the Torres EVX's advanced sensors, the company successfully reduced the sensor count from roughly 40 to about 20.

The robo-taxi service area will expand from its previous coverage of parts of Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu to the entire Gangnam autonomous vehicle pilot zone, spanning 20.4 square kilometers. The companies plan to seek Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport approval to enable fully autonomous operation across all segments of the zone, including school zones.

Following amendments to the Enforcement Rules of the Motor Vehicle Management Act in January, the requirement for manual driving in zones designated to protect vulnerable road users was abolished. Operators that submit a safe-driving plan and obtain Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport approval may now run autonomous vehicles in those areas as well.

"The autonomous robo-taxi developed through the collaboration between KGM and SWM.ai has logged 13,214 cumulative rides since it began operating in September 2024, contributing to the expansion of autonomous driving services in Korea through safe and convenient operation," a KGM official said.

The official went on to say that "KGM will accelerate development of a more sophisticated autonomous vehicle platform — including the application of dual-safety design — not only to expand services through collaborative development with various autonomous driving companies, but also to prepare for future plans to roll out autonomous driving pilot city services nationwide."

Meanwhile, KGM and SWM.ai signed a technology cooperation MOU in 2022 covering Level 4 urban autonomous driving pre-development, laying the groundwork for their robo-taxi service.