Anyang held a preview ride so residents could test its driverless Level 4 autonomous shuttle ahead of the vehicle’s official launch.
City officials said the preview took place on the 10th as Anyang prepares to begin regular shuttle operations on the 16th.
Mayor Dae-ho Choi, Vice Mayor Gye-sam Lee, Han Chi-hyung, CEO of Autonomous A2G Co., and Kim Myung-hwa, chair of the Anyang Honorary Citizens Association, attended the event and tested the new autonomous driving technology.
Participants rode a roughly 4-km route from Anyang City Hall to Beomgye Station and on to the Smart City Integration Center; the trip lasted about 30 minutes. The shuttle seats 9 and has a top speed of 40 km/h.
The vehicle is equipped with multiple sensors, a communications-based autonomous driving system, and real-time monitoring capabilities.
This Level 4 shuttle is the first driverless vehicle of its kind introduced by a municipal government. Regulations nevertheless require a safety manager to ride onboard to handle any emergencies.
The public trial is part of the Smart City Integration Center program and begins on the 16th. Residents can reserve a free ride in advance through Anyang City's integrated reservation website.
“As a leading city in autonomous driving, we want our residents to be among the first to experience the shift to smart mobility,” Choi said. “We will continue pursuing transportation innovation so advanced technology becomes a routine part of everyday public transit.”
