Kakao Mobility Launches Self-Driving Taxi Service in Gangnam: What You Need to Know About the Kia EV6 and AI Technology

Oh Joo-seok | 2026.03.16

  Kakao Mobility autonomous taxi. The vehicle is a Kia EV6, but it runs on Kakao Mobility’s own autonomous driving technology. [Photo: Kakao Mobility]
  Kakao Mobility autonomous taxi. The vehicle is a Kia EV6, but it runs on Kakao Mobility’s own autonomous driving technology. [Photo: Kakao Mobility]
  Interior of a Kakao Mobility autonomous taxi. [Photo: Kakao Mobility]
  Interior of a Kakao Mobility autonomous taxi. [Photo: Kakao Mobility]
Kakao Mobility has launched a late-night autonomous taxi service in Seoul’s Gangnam district. Following similar deployments on buses, autonomous taxis are the latest to extend the reach of self-driving services. With commercialization focused on public transit, Hyundai Motor — which said it will develop its own autonomous driving technology next year — is facing a major test of its program this year.

On March 16, Kakao Mobility began operating autonomous taxis around Gangnam.

The late-night fleet uses the Kia EV6 platform but is powered by Kakao Mobility’s in-house autonomous system, “AI Planner1.” Based on complex urban datasets from areas such as Pangyo and Gangnam, the company developed an end-to-end (E2E) system that lets AI handle perception and decision-making. The pilot operates on weekdays from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. within designated autonomous-driving trial zones.

Across South Korea, autonomous driving projects have centered on public transit. Companies such as Autonomous A2Z and RideFlux are partnering with local governments in Seoul, Busan and Daegu to showcase solutions and build real-world test experience.

Hyundai Motor, selected to operate the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s “K-Autonomous Driving Cooperation Model,” will begin deploying 200 Ioniq 5–based autonomous vehicles to Gwangju starting in the second half of the year. Motional, Hyundai’s autonomous-driving joint venture, is aiming for full commercial deployment of driverless robo-taxis in Las Vegas by year-end.

Interest is also rising among private-car buyers. In a survey last month of 450 prospective buyers by Chabot Mobility, 76.5% said they would consider subscribing to autonomous-driving features.

Tesla and General Motors have already demonstrated autonomous-driving features in Korea, but widespread market adoption remains limited. Last year Hyundai, through its Atria AI unit, said it aims to deliver Level 2+ capabilities—approaching Tesla’s FSD level—by 2027.

42dot, Hyundai’s autonomous-driving affiliate, is focused on camera- and radar-based E2E models and launched a major hiring drive in January.

Still, the path to profitability for autonomous driving investments is uncertain. 42dot reported an operating loss of ₩349.7 billion (about $262.3 million) last year, roughly double the prior year’s deficit. Motional, which operates the robo-taxi business, also faces heavy pre-commercialization investment costs.

Attention now turns to whether Park Min-woo, the newly appointed president of 42dot who also leads Hyundai’s Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) division, can reverse that trend. A Hyundai Motor spokesperson said the company’s autonomous-driving strategy could shift under the new president and that it may present concrete plans at this year’s Investor Day.