Hyundai to Test Driverless Trucks on South Korean Highways Starting 2027
Hyundai Motor Group will run real-world Level 4 trials with two heavy trucks on set logistics routes, aiming to gather data toward eventual commercial self-driving freight.
What happened: Hyundai Motor Group announced it will begin Level 4 autonomous driving trials for heavy-duty trucks in South Korea in early 2027, running through most of that year. Hyundai Motor and Kia signed on with parts maker Hyundai Mobis, logistics arm Hyundai Glovis, and two Korean self-driving software firms, Mars Auto and RideFlux, to test the trucks on real logistics routes rather than closed test tracks.
Why it matters: Long-haul trucking is physically demanding and many countries, including South Korea, face driver shortages and fatigue-related safety risks. If autonomous trucks prove reliable on real routes, logistics companies could eventually run freight more consistently and safely. But this is a small, early pilot, not a finished product, and the eventual effects on professional drivers' jobs remain unresolved and unaddressed in Hyundai's announcement.
How it works, plainly: Hyundai will supply two Xcient heavy trucks, one hydrogen fuel cell and one diesel. Mars Auto and RideFlux will each fit one truck with their own sensors, control units, and driving software. The trucks will run two routes: a shorter 100 km mix of highway and city roads, and a longer 400 km mostly-highway route. Level 4 means the system can drive itself within set conditions, though human supervision stays involved during this testing phase, and engineers will build backup systems that can take over if the main software fails.
The rollout: Trials are scheduled to start in early 2027 and continue through most of the year, focused on refining software, proving the backup systems work under real conditions, and collecting the data Hyundai says it needs before considering wider commercialization. No date has been given for when, or whether, this technology would reach actual commercial freight operations beyond the pilot.