Kia Launches Korea’s First Remote-Driving Car-Sharing Trial

Kia has launched what it describes as South Korea’s first car-sharing trial built around remote vehicle operation, moving the technology from controlled demonstrations into a service intended for everyday users. The pilot is designed to test commercial viability and runs through the end of 2026 at the Second Pangyo Techno Valley in Gyeonggi Province.

Employees of companies in the technology complex can reserve a Kia PV5 through a dedicated application. A remote operator then drives the empty vehicle to the requested pickup location over a wireless network. After the customer completes the journey and parks, an operator can return the vehicle to its depot without anyone inside.

The model could remove one of the practical constraints of conventional car sharing: the need for customers to visit designated pickup and return points. It may also reduce the work required to reposition vehicles across a fleet, giving operators more flexibility in matching cars with demand.

Unlike fully autonomous driving, the system keeps a human operator in control from an external center. It uses existing 4G and 5G communications infrastructure and conventional vehicles equipped for remote operation. Kia says that approach could provide a more economical path to new mobility services while autonomous technology continues to develop.

The project is being led by a consortium that includes Kia, remote-driving startup SUM, mobility operator Mobiops and the Korea Road Traffic Authority. Kia is supplying the PV5 vehicles and overseeing the initiative. SUM developed the remote-driving solution, Mobiops is handling service operations, and the traffic authority is supporting regulatory reviews. Gyeonggi Province, KT and other organizations are also participating.

Safety and network reliability will be central to the commercial test. The consortium has established a triple-network communications setup intended to protect operations from connectivity failures. It has also prepared operator training and emergency-response procedures.

The pilot follows a phased regulatory and technical process. Kia received regulatory sandbox approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in April 2025. It later joined Socar, KT and SUM for field tests in Jeju and Hwaseong, and in July 2026 signed an agreement with KT and SUM to pursue commercialization.

Kia plans to use operating data from the Pangyo trial to improve the technology and service model before expanding the program in 2027. The company sees potential applications beyond car sharing, including mobility support in places with limited transport infrastructure and services that deliver vehicles directly to users.