HL Klemove, an autonomous driving solutions company under HL Group, announced on January 8 that it has signed a partnership with Autonomous a2z for Level 4 autonomous driving cooperation.
The signing ceremony was held on January 7 at Cheonggyecheon Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul. Key officials from both companies attended, including HL Klemove President Lee Yoon-haeng and Autonomous a2z President Han Ji-hyung.
The Cheonggyecheon area is a designated autonomous driving zone where Autonomous a2z's self-driving shuttle "Roy" is currently in operation. Level 4 refers to a stage where a vehicle drives autonomously to its destination without driver intervention under specific conditions.
The two companies aim to enter a more concrete phase of fully autonomous driving technology by combining HL Klemove's perception sensors, high-performance computing (HPC) controllers, and software technology with Autonomous a2z's experience operating autonomous vehicles.
As a first step, the partnership will focus on securing artificial intelligence-based end-to-end (E2E) technology. This refers to autonomous driving technology in which AI handles the entire process — from sensor data input via cameras and radar to route planning and vehicle control. The companies also plan to explore entering the global market through future technology integration.
"This partnership will serve as a cornerstone for fully autonomous driving technology," President Lee said. "We will expand our Level 2+ centered business into the Level 4 robotaxi sector to create new growth opportunities."
Autonomous a2z is a leading autonomous driving demonstration company in Korea. It has logged a cumulative autonomous driving distance of 973,531 kilometers and operates 81 self-driving shuttles across 14 autonomous driving pilot zones nationwide. Its operational experience accumulated in Seoul, Sejong, Incheon International Airport, as well as in Japan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, is expected to serve as critical data that enhances the effectiveness of the partnership.