Kia to invest $2.2 bil. in Gwangju to build PBV mobility ecosystem by 2029
Kia Corp. said Friday it will invest 3 trillion won ($2.2 billion) through 2029 in the southwestern city of Gwangju to establish an ecosystem for purpose-built vehicles (PBVs). The Korean automaker signed a memorandum of understanding with Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, Chonnam National University, and the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) at its AutoLand plant in…
Kia Corp. has announced plans to invest $2.2 billion into Gwangju, South Korea, over the next seven years to create a mobility ecosystem centered around purpose-built vehicles (PBVs). The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, Chonnam National University, and GIST at its AutoLand plant in Gwangju.
The collaboration aims to develop PBVs for demand-responsive transport services, test autonomous PBV shuttles, and demonstrate remote driving technology using the PBV wheelchair-accessible vehicle. Additionally, the partnership will explore Kia's Easy Swap technology, which allows vehicles to transition between passenger and cargo configurations.
This investment is expected to bolster the region's PBV industry, fostering new growth opportunities through the accelerated development and adoption of advanced mobility services.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
