Ride Flux Approved for Provisional Urban Autonomous Driving of 25-ton Trucks

Autonomous driving software startup RideFlux has opened a new chapter in Korea's logistics revolution by obtaining temporary operational approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for its 25-ton heavy-duty cargo truck to operate autonomously on urban general roads. This marks the first instance where a heavy-duty cargo truck weighing over 10 tons has been approved for autonomous operation on complex urban general roads, including signalized intersections, significantly expanding the scope of heavy-duty truck autonomous driving, which was previously limited to expressways and exclusive automobile roads. Building upon this approval, RideFlux plans to consult with major domestic logistics and manufacturing companies and officially launch its paid autonomous freight transportation service starting in the second half of this year. As autonomous driving becomes possible even on urban general roads before and after highway entry, it will accelerate the commercialization of Level 4 autonomous driving in the 'middle mile' market, connecting the entire transportation route between logistics centers with unmanned autonomous driving. RideFlux plans to address chronic issues in the domestic freight transportation industry, such as driver shortages, an aging workforce, and transportation gaps on undesirable routes, through autonomous driving technology, and contribute to significantly enhancing transportation efficiency and safety. CEO Park Jung-hee stated, "This temporary operational approval for general roads is an important milestone for the commercialization of Level 4 autonomous driving technology," adding that the company will provide safe and reliable autonomous driving services through continuous technological advancement. In addition to the logistics sector, RideFlux is accelerating the commercialization of autonomous driving services in various aspects, including conducting passenger autonomous driving tests without a safety driver in the driver's seat.