Kakao Mobility and Nvidia have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop Level 4 (L4) autonomous driving technology for Kia purpose-built vehicles (PBVs), with initial operations centred on Seoul, South Korea.

The deal, announced without a disclosed financial value, combines Kakao Mobility's proprietary autonomous driving software with Nvidia's computing, sensing and safety systems. The collaboration builds on Kakao Mobility's existing autonomous driving operations in Seoul's Gangnam district and its broader mobility platform capabilities.

What does the partnership cover?

Under the agreement, Kakao Mobility will deploy its own autonomous driving AI model, while Nvidia supplies computing infrastructure and optimisation support for an L4 system intended to meet global standards. L4 designation means the vehicle can drive itself without human intervention within defined conditions.

The technical stack has three named components:

• An autonomous driving computing unit fitted with two Nvidia Drive AGX Thor units for real-time processing of large-scale AI workloads.
• Nvidia Hyperion, the company's sensor and computing reference architecture, to optimise connections between vehicles, sensors and autonomous driving computing units.
• Nvidia Halos, Nvidia's integrated safety system, applied in the development and validation of Kakao Mobility's autonomous driving software.

Kakao Mobility CEO Ryu Geung-sun framed the agreement as a step toward commercial-scale deployment. "Through this collaboration with Nvidia, we will not only accelerate the advancement of E2E [end-to-end] autonomous driving, but also prepare for the era of L4 commercialisation as the hub of the global technology ecosystem connecting software, components, and finished vehicles," he said.

Rishi Dhall, Nvidia's automotive vice president, said the two platforms address complementary layers of the stack. "Nvidia Hyperion provides the sensor and computing technology foundation needed for L4 autonomous driving, while Nvidia Halos supports a comprehensive safety system throughout the entire process, from technology development to actual service application," Dhall said.

Why Kia PBVs come first?

The initial focus of the partnership will be Kia purpose-built vehicles. The choice follows a July agreement between Kakao Mobility and Kia covering PBV development for autonomous driving services. Kia plans to prioritise the combined technology in vehicles designed specifically for L4 autonomous driving services, rather than retrofitting conventional passenger models.

The sequencing gives the partnership a defined route to market: Kakao Mobility supplies software and platform operations, Nvidia supplies the compute and safety architecture, and Kia supplies the vehicle hardware purpose-built for driverless service.

Samsung expands separate Nvidia work

In a separate development, Samsung Electronics is widening its collaboration with Nvidia in semiconductor innovation through accelerated computing and AI physics. That work covers materials research, process development and device engineering, and sits outside the Kakao Mobility-Nvidia autonomous driving agreement.

The Kakao Mobility-Nvidia MoU marks the latest move by the Korean mobility operator to position itself in the L4 commercialisation race, with Gangnam operations serving as the testing ground for technology intended to scale to global standards.

By Elena Vasquez