[THE INVESTOR] Hyundai Motor Group plans to operate self-driving taxis at its research center in Namyang, Gyeonggi Province, from later this month, a local newspaper reported on July 6.

MoneyToday, citing unnamed company officials, reported that a total of five autonomous taxis, based on Hyundai’s fuel-cell sport utility vehicle Tucson ix and the Ioniq hybrid compact, will be operated. 

The Namyang center is located on a 346.5 square-meter site, equipped with a 64-kilometer test-driving road.

The taxis will be operated for employees commuting within the campus. Users can make a ride reservation via a smartphone app.

A group of Uber researchers visited the center last month possibly to seek partnership with Hyudai that has been making a big push on autonomous driving.

Late last year, the group acquired driving licenses in Nevada, US, to operate its self-driving cars based on Hyundai’s fuel-cell SUV Tucson and Kia’s full-electric compact Soul.

Early this year, the carmaker was granted approval to operate autonomous models of its Genesis luxury sedan and the Tucson fuel-cell SUV in Korea.

Hyundai also plans to unveil a self-driving version of its latest electric model Ioniq during the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas next year.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)