Autonomous Hyundai cars hit the streets in Irvine, California

Hyundai, in partnership with Pony.ai and Via, today unveiled BotRide, a collaborative on-demand autonomous service running on public roads. Beginning November 4th, Hyundai's KONA Electric SUV fleet will provide a free ride-sharing service to the local community of Irvine, California.

“The pilot introduces BotRide to several hundred Irvine residents, including college students. The goal is to study consumer behavior in an offline sharing environment.” said Christopher Chang, head of business development, strategy and technology, Hyundai Motor Company. “We're going to learn about the ecosystems that cars drive through and optimize the customer experience. BotRide is another example of Hyundai's ongoing efforts to actively build expertise in mobility technology, as well as the company's commitment to providing customers with a more convenient mobility experience.”

Hyundai has partnered with Pony.ai to create a self-driving system and with Via to create the BotRide technology and app for on-demand rides. Using the BotRide app (iOS and Android), riders can hail Hyundai's KONA Electric autonomous SUV right from their smartphone. Via's advanced algorithms allow multiple riders to use the same vehicle equipped with Pony.ai's autonomous vehicle technology. The app directs passengers to nearby pick-up and drop-off stops, allowing for quick and efficient ride sharing without lengthy detours or inconvenient fixed routes and schedules.

Integrated technologies from Hyundai and Pony.ai enable BotRide vehicles to navigate complex road scenarios safely. These vehicles are equipped with the latest sensor hardware and Pony.ai proprietary software to accurately locate surrounding vehicles, control pedestrian traffic in urban areas, accurately monitor its surroundings, predict the behavior of other road users, and accurately plan actions accordingly.

In addition to self-driving capabilities, BotRide is testing its user experience in preparation for a complete driverless future.

BotRide is launching in several popular destinations where a passenger can ride using the BotRide app. The service area covers several residential, commercial and institutional properties. BotRide technology prioritizes interaction between riders and the system, such as automatic screening of passengers on board, giving drivers the opportunity to familiarize themselves with technologies expected to become commonplace in the future of autonomous mobility.

“Through BotRide, Hyundai is leveraging cutting-edge autonomous vehicle and mobility technologies to bring a new, safer and more convenient form of transportation to the public,” said Daniel Khan, advanced product strategy manager, Hyundai Motor America. “The BotRide pilot represents an important step in the deployment and eventual commercialization of a growing new mobile business. In addition to the technology partners supporting BotRide, the wider city and community ecosystem has also been instrumental in making BotRide possible. The BotRide pilot can serve as an example of how cities and companies can come together to truly build the smart cities and smart transportation systems of the future.”