Robo-Taxis Remain Years from Commercial Service
Although a large-scale fleet of autonomous vehicles is being deployed in Gwangju City and the era of driverless Level 4 autonomous driving has come into sight, suggestions have been made that business models and coexistence plans with the existing transportation industry must be prepared alongside t
Despite progress in autonomous vehicle technology, commercial deployment of robo-taxis remains years away, according to discussions held in Gwangju City. Experts at a recent seminar emphasized the need to develop business models and coexistence plans alongside technological advancements to turn autonomous driving into functional transportation services like taxis and buses.
Han Ji-hyeong, CEO of Autonomous a2z, stressed that autonomous driving technology must be commercialized to generate profits for companies, as research and development funded solely through subsidies cannot sustain long-term operations. He also noted that significant differences in perception exist between technology companies and the established transportation industry regarding the commercialization of autonomous driving.
During the seminar, concerns were raised that taxi and bus companies may view autonomous vehicles as immediate replacements for traditional services, leading to a potential 3 to 4-year gap before autonomous-driven services are launched. The seminar highlighted the importance of joint verification of profit models between autonomous driving companies and existing transportation operators, as well as the necessity of creating a supportive infrastructure through government and local government support.
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