Kia Launches Remote-Operated Car-Sharing Trial in South Korea

Kia has launched what the source describes as South Korea’s first remotely operated car-sharing trial, in the Pangyo Techno Valley region. The pilot uses Kia PV5 electric vans, which customers can have delivered to their location without a driver in the vehicle.

Remote operators can take control of unoccupied vehicles and drive them to customers. When a trip ends, an operator can return the vehicle to a depot for servicing and charging. The system uses 4G or 5G networks, while an app handles bookings, payments and support. The consortium says it has set up a triple-network system to guard against connectivity failures, alongside operator training and emergency response measures.

The trial is a joint project by Socar, KT, Kia and autonomous-driving startup SUM. The companies are now looking toward commercializing the technology. Kia says remote operation could ease vehicle movements for large car-sharing fleets and give customers more flexibility about where they collect and leave cars. It also says the technology could support mobility in areas with limited transport infrastructure and everyday services.

The source compares the trial with a tele-operated parking system BMW and supplier Valeo showed in 2024. That system let remote operators guide connected BMW vehicles into parking spaces. BMW has not launched a public tele-operation pilot, according to the source. Kia’s trial uses remote human operators, rather than relying on fully autonomous driving.