RideFlux Launches Seoul Autonomous Bus; Expands to 4 Regions Nationwide

Autonomous driving technology startup RideFlux has officially entered the Seoul metropolitan market by launching an autonomous public transportation bus service in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. This is a significant step towards providing future-oriented transportation to Seoul citizens based on the know-how accumulated in Jeju, Sejong, and Busan, and accelerating the establishment of a nationwide service network. The Seodaemun-gu autonomous driving bus service, which began its first operation on the 13th, operates with two Solati-based small buses. Each vehicle can accommodate up to 12 passengers, and standing is not permitted for passenger safety. Operating on a fixed route where passengers board and alight at designated stops, just like regular local buses, it runs a route of approximately 5.9km from Seodaemun-gu Office to Gajwa Station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line. It is expected to enhance local mobility convenience by passing through major hubs closely related to residents' daily lives, such as Seodaemun Culture and Sports Center, Baekryeon Market, and Gajaeul New Town. The service operates on weekdays from 9:20 AM to 5:30 PM, with 25-minute intervals. In the initial phase of the service, it will be provided free of charge to allow citizens to experience autonomous driving without burden. Subsequently, it will be converted to a paid service at the level of regular local bus fares. RideFlux has extensively applied advanced technologies to ensure the highest level of safety. The buses are equipped with 8 cameras, 5 LiDAR sensors, and 1 radar, detecting the movement of surrounding vehicles, pedestrians, and objects in real-time, 360 degrees omnidirectionally. Furthermore, by linking with the Seoul Metropolitan Government's control center, the real-time location and autonomous driving status are precisely monitored. Through the Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS), key traffic data, such as traffic light information, is transmitted in real-time, enabling even more stable operation. A safety operator always accompanies the vehicle to respond immediately to any unexpected situations. With the launch of the Seodaemun-gu service, RideFlux has expanded its service area to Seoul, following Jeju, Sejong, and Busan, and plans to further expand to more nationwide locations, including the Seoul metropolitan area and major provincial cities, within this year. Notably, in Sangam, Seoul, it is conducting test operations of fully unmanned autonomous vehicles, which are unique in Korea for not having a safety manager in the driver's seat, and is evaluated as leading the transition to unmanned technology in the country. Park Jung-hee, CEO of RideFlux, stated, "We hope that this Seodaemun-gu autonomous driving bus service will become a significant turning point for autonomous driving to establish itself as a practical means of transportation in the daily lives of Seoul citizens," and added, "We will continue our efforts to ensure more citizens in major cities nationwide can experience safe and reliable autonomous driving services."