'Connected Car' Material and Parts Certification Center to be Completed in 2023 in Cheongna, Incheon

Connected Car [Provided by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The Cheongna International City in Incheon Free Economic Zone has started its journey to become a global hub for Connected Cars.

On the 18th, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority announced that it has commenced architectural planning services for the construction of a certification and evaluation center for materials and parts of connected cars, a new industry that integrates telecommunications, electronics, automotive, and information technology (IT) sectors.

The service aims to enable efficient design by reviewing the condition of the land foundation before detailed design of the certification and evaluation center, the location of access roads, advantages and issues of similar buildings, and potential functional expansions. The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority plans to complete this service within the year, proceed with detailed design next year, and complete the center by November 2023.

The center, to be built within Cheongna Robot Land, will be responsible for performance evaluation, testing, and certification of various materials and parts developed for connected cars. The Korea Automotive Technology Institute will be in charge of establishing the testing equipment necessary for the center’s certification and evaluation.

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, together with the Korea Automotive Technology Institute, plans to establish a certification and evaluation system for wireless communication technologies through a public contest next year and will cooperate in future mobility projects where cars converge with robots, drones, and other technologies.

Connected cars are future vehicles equipped with advanced information and communication technology (ICT) that enable two-way wireless communication. They can connect and communicate with other vehicles and all objects, providing drivers with various convenience information such as safe driving data.

Also regarded as a core technology for autonomous driving, connected cars exchange collision warning signals, intersection control information, and more with other vehicles, pedestrian devices, and road infrastructure. They receive traffic safety support from traffic centers, real-time navigation, and vehicle inspection services.

Using the car’s Wi-Fi or mobile communication functions as a hotspot, passengers can enjoy music and movie streaming services, real-time weather and news search services, and more.

The global and domestic market sizes related to connected cars are projected to reach 905 trillion won and 31 trillion won respectively by 2030, driving demand not only for materials and parts but also attracting the attention of global automakers who are actively developing and commercializing these technologies.

An official from the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority stated, "Just as Songdo is emerging as a global bio-industry hub, once Cheongna’s connected car business gets on track and the future mobility industry is established, the Incheon Free Economic Zone will secure a stable future growth engine." He added, "We will do our best to promote the connected car business without setbacks to attract companies and create large-scale employment."

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