Kakao Mobility’s self-driving taxi service in Seoul’s Gangnam district has surpassed 1,000 cumulative rides just two months after transitioning to a paid service. The company views this as a sign that the service is establishing itself as a genuine mode of transportation rather than a novelty experience, and plans to accelerate expansion of its operating zone and advancement of its artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
According to Kakao Mobility on Sunday, the Gangnam self-driving taxi service, which began paid operations on April 6, surpassed 1,000 cumulative rides by the end of June. That milestone came just over 80 days after the paid launch, averaging approximately 12 rides per day. Given that only two vehicles are currently in operation, that translates to roughly 6 rides per vehicle per day.
The service was first introduced as a free pilot program in September 2024 and switched to a paid model in April of this year. Users can hail a self-driving taxi directly through the Kakao T app, with each vehicle accommodating up to three passengers. A safety attendant still rides along. Fares are fixed regardless of distance or time: ₩5,800 (approximately $4.04) from noon to 11 p.m. and from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m., and ₩6,700 (approximately $4.66) from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The current operating area covers the Gangnam district — designated as a “self-driving pilot zone” — including Gangnam Station, Apgujeong Station, Seolleung Station, Bongeunsa Station, Daechi Station, Gaepo-dong Station, and Yangjae Station. The service runs from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays, and vehicles cannot yet travel outside this zone. Kakao Mobility plans to gradually expand the operating area and service scope in consultation with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and other relevant agencies.
Kakao Mobility is also advancing its autonomous driving AI capabilities. The company aims to expand the share of end-to-end (E2E) processing within its “AI Planner” — the core autonomous driving technology — by the end of this year, and to complete real-road testing of the upgraded model on actual vehicles. E2E is an approach in which a single integrated AI model handles the entire process, from environmental perception to route planning and vehicle control. The company is currently accumulating real-world data through its Gangnam zone-based autonomous driving service, using that data to train the E2E model while validating performance and safety in simulation environments.
Kakao Mobility launched its autonomous driving task force in 2018 and began South Korea’s first platform-based paid autonomous driving service in Sejong City in late 2020. Kim Jin-kyu, Vice President of Kakao Mobility’s Physical AI Division, said at a recent National Assembly forum: “Our goal is not just a single self-driving car, but to build an operating system that enables all of South Korea to operate autonomously.”
Industry observers view the 1,000-ride milestone as the first indicator that self-driving taxis can achieve commercial viability. However, the current fleet of just two vehicles, limited operating hours and zones, and the presence of safety attendants mean the service is still far from full commercialization. Expanding the operating area and improving service quality through E2E technology will be key to scaling the service going forward.