KGM Signs MOU for Autonomous Driving Technology Collaboration

Automaker KGM is moving forward with the commercialization of Level 4 autonomous driving technology through cooperation with A2Z, a specialized autonomous driving technology firm. The two companies plan to secure core technologies for the future mobility market and apply them to vehicles, including electric buses. KGM will present its autonomous driving technology roadmap and provide production-ready vehicle platforms, while A2Z will be responsible for developing Level 4 autonomous driving core technologies and their application to finished vehicles. KGMC will realize vehicles suitable for real passenger transport environments through the development and application of technology to its electric bus platform.

The cooperation between the two parties has been ongoing since the signing of the first technical cooperation MOU in 2023, leading to the unveiling of the Level 4 autonomous vehicle 'ROii' in 2024. ROii, a shuttle-type model capable of carrying up to 11 passengers, provided autonomous driving services at the '2025 APEC' event and has been operating as a loop shuttle in the Cheonggyecheon area since September 2025. An autonomous bus based on KGMC's electric bus C090 has been deployed in certain sections of Seoul since March during late-night and early-morning hours, undergoing verification for operational efficiency and technological completeness.

With this MOU, KGM is expanding the application of its autonomous driving technology beyond existing passenger cars to the public transportation sector, utilizing autonomous buses. KGM CEO Hwang Gi-young emphasized the importance of ensuring vehicle safety as autonomous driving technology advances, stating that KGM will apply redundant safety designs to key vehicle control elements such as driving, steering, braking, and power supply systems through this technical cooperation. Hwang expressed the company's commitment to becoming a trusted mobility specialist by prioritizing the internal development of autonomous driving technology and safety as its foremost principles.

KGM is accelerating its technology internalization through external collaborations. In March, it signed an LOI with ETRI (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute) and Sody to develop and commercialize next-generation autonomous driving AI technology. Early this month, the company partnered with SWM to expand area-based autonomous taxi services, speeding up its efforts to secure core technologies.