[Edaily Reporter Lee So-Hyun ] Kakao Mobility is partnering with KIA CORPORATION(000270)to develop purpose-built vehicles (PBVs) specialized for autonomous driving services. The plan is to combine expertise in operating autonomous driving platforms with automotive manufacturing capabilities to lay the groundwork for the commercialization of autonomous driving services.

Kakao Mobility announced on the 16th that it has signed a “Strategic Partnership Agreement with KIA CORPORATION for the Supply of PBVs for Autonomous Driving Services and Related Technical Cooperation.”

Through this agreement, the two companies will collaborate on the development of autonomous driving service technology, the development and supply of vehicles dedicated to autonomous driving services, the advancement of autonomous driving service operation technology, and the expansion of the autonomous driving ecosystem.

This collaboration is significant in that it marks the first time a platform and autonomous driving technology company is partnering with a global automaker to jointly develop vehicles and operational technologies specifically for autonomous driving. Kakao Mobility will provide real-world service operation experience and platform management capabilities, while KIA CORPORATION will handle vehicle development and ensure a stable supply chain.

The core focus is the development and supply of PBVs (Purpose-Built Vehicles) for autonomous driving services. KIA CORPORATION will establish a system to develop and supply vehicles dedicated to autonomous driving based on the specifications for autonomous driving technology and service operation optimization required by Kakao Mobility.

As a first step, the companies plan to supply the vehicles and DevKits—devices that integrate with autonomous driving systems—needed for Kakao Mobility’s autonomous driving pilot project by the end of this year.

The DevKit is a device that supports interface integration between external vehicle control software and KIA CORPORATION vehicles. Kakao Mobility expects this will enable it to build an autonomous driving control environment that interfaces directly with the vehicle’s systems.

In the medium to long term, the two companies plan to jointly develop PBV vehicles tailored for commercial services based on autonomous vehicle operation data.

They will also conduct joint research and demonstrations on autonomous driving service operation technologies. The two companies plan to jointly develop and demonstrate technologies necessary for advancing autonomous driving services, such as remote driving within depots, wireless charging, and in- and out-of-vehicle displays for unmanned communication.

Kakao Mobility plans to use this collaboration as an opportunity to expand its autonomous driving technology alliance into the automotive manufacturing sector. Kakao Mobility has been building cooperative frameworks with domestic and international technology companies and parts suppliers, and intends to expand its open autonomous driving ecosystem through its partnership with KIA CORPORATION.

The two companies aim to use the Korean mobility market—which is highly receptive to new IT technologies—as a benchmark for global service models and to establish competitive autonomous driving service standards for overseas markets in the future.

Ryu Geung-seon, CEO of Kakao Mobility, stated, “The strategic partnership between Kakao Mobility and KIA CORPORATION, a leader in the global automotive market, will be a turning point that reshapes the landscape of the autonomous driving industry.” He added, “By combining Kakao Mobility’s platform capabilities and autonomous driving technology with KIA CORPORATION’s vehicle manufacturing expertise, we will accelerate the internalization of technology, lead the relevant ecosystem, and secure the competitiveness needed to lead the global market.”