Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Zone will be expanded in Pangyo

The pilot zone for self-driving cars will be expanded from the existing route type to a zone type that boarding and destination can be freely set in Pangyo of Gyeonggi Province, Korea.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the expansion of the "Pangyo Self-Driving Vehicle Demonstration Zone" on the 24th.

The pilot driving zone is a newly introduced system under the Self-Driving Vehicle Act, which took effect in May 2020, and is a special regulatory zone to support the demonstration of self-driving services.

Based on paid passenger transportation companies and demand for users, the Pangyo self-driving car pilot zone will be expanded from the existing 7km route type to zone type which covers first Techno Valley, 2 Valley, and connection section.

The zone type is different from the existing route type in that operators who want to provide self-driving car services can freely set routes or utilization plans within special area.

Gyeonggi Province can issue limited licenses for autonomous driving-based transportation and logistics services such as unmanned shuttles and robot taxis if they decide on routes or utilization plans in the area and apply for the project.

Gyeonggi Province expects the expansion of the pilot operation district to create business synergy as various autonomous driving services such as autonomous cooperative driving buses, unmanned shuttles and robot taxis will be carried out in Pangyo Techno Valley.

“Gyeonggi-do launched the Autonomous Driving Center in May 2019 and has been leading the pilot operation of autonomous vehicles by providing an open platform that can prove road-based autonomous vehicles” and “Through the expansion of the pilot operation district, it is expected that it will have a positive effect on the expansion of business models of various companies such as self-driving technology companies.” said Kim Kyu-sik, a director of future growth policy in Gyeonggi-do.