First Autonomous Driving Traffic Logistics Basic Plan Finalized... Commercialization Targeted for 2025

Demonstration of Autonomous Driving Using Next-Generation Intelligent Transportation System (C-ITS)
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 29th that the '1st Basic Plan for Autonomous Driving Transportation and Logistics,' which will serve as the foundation for the spread of autonomous vehicles and the development of autonomous driving-based transportation and logistics systems over the next five years (2021?2025), has been finalized after review by the National Transportation Committee.

The 1st Basic Plan for Autonomous Driving Transportation and Logistics is a statutory five-year plan established under the "Act on Promotion and Support of Commercialization of Autonomous Vehicles."

The first plan was prepared with the vision of "Opening the Era of Commercialization of Autonomous Driving-Based Transportation and Logistics Systems by 2025."

According to the plan, the first priority is to advance autonomous driving transportation and logistics service technologies. By securing technological capabilities for autonomous driving passenger, freight, and social infrastructure services, more convenient passenger services, platooning of freight trucks, and autonomous urban delivery services for freight will be developed.

In addition, demonstrations will be expanded mainly in pilot operation zones designated as regulatory sandbox areas and regulatory free zones, and the advancement of autonomous driving testbeds such as K-City will be promoted. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport explained, "To support testing and research of Level 4 autonomous vehicles, we plan to upgrade testbed facilities and provide on-site research spaces for companies within the testbeds to support technology development and demonstrations."

To enable autonomous driving-based services to be introduced nationwide, road and communication infrastructure necessary for autonomous driving will be established across the country, and a management system for service foundations such as data and platforms will be established. The next-generation intelligent transportation system, C-ITS, will be deployed on major roads nationwide by 2025.

To secure driving safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles, safety technologies will be advanced, international harmonization of safety standards will be established, and social acceptance of autonomous driving technology will be promoted. Safety evaluation criteria and testing methods for Level 4 autonomous vehicles will be developed, and cybersecurity and safety accident response systems will be established.

Kim Jeonghee, Director of the Automobile Policy Division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "We will steadily carry out the detailed tasks in the basic plan so that autonomous driving-based transportation and logistics systems such as autonomous shuttles and delivery can be introduced promptly, achieving expected benefits such as improving public mobility convenience and logistics efficiency."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.