Rideflux Gets South Korea's First Driverless Car Test License

Seoul, South Korea - Rideflux has been granted a license to test driverless autonomous vehicles without a safety driver in the driver's seat, thereby becoming the first company in the country to do so.

The license permits Rideflux to test its vehicles at speeds of up to 50 km per hour (31 mph) without a safety driver. 

This authorization was granted following the company's successful completion of a driverless performance evaluation at the K-City autonomous vehicle testing facility in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, last December.

Rideflux plans to commence driverless testing of a five-seater passenger car in Seoul's Sangam district later this year. 

The testing will take place on a 3.2 km (2 mile) circuit that includes pedestrian crossings and intersections without traffic signals. 

The company has indicated that it will prioritize the safety of road users by gradually increasing testing and avoiding rush hour traffic.

In a statement, Rideflux CEO asserted that the driverless license has demonstrated the company's global-level software technology and will facilitate the commercialization of driverless autonomous driving in the domestic market.

In March 2021, South Korea revised its regulations to permit driverless testing at speeds above 10 km per hour. 

In the United States, Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo commenced offering fully driverless ride-hailing services to the public in Phoenix, Arizona, in October 2020, and has since expanded to other cities.