Home

Hyundai

Kona Electric

News

Hyundai Launches BotRide Autonomous On-Demand Ride-Sharing Pilot

Hyundai also to test and demonstrate autonomous electric cars in California.

BotRide - autonomous Hyundai Kona Electric

Mark Kane Mark Kane

By: Mark Kane

Oct 28, 2019 at 6:50am ET

Add InsideEVs as a preferred source in Google

Share

Comment

On November 4, 2019 Hyundai, together with partners - Pony.ai and Via, will make available a pilot self-driving on-demand ride-sharing service BotRide in Irvine, California.

According to the South Korean manufacturer, riders will be able to hail an autonomous Kona Electric directly from a smartphone.

See also

As there are no details about fleet size, we assume that there will be just one to a few cars only.

BotRide testers will get an opportunity to familiarize themselves with an autonomous electric ride first hand, probably years before such a service will be widely available.

"Via’s advanced algorithms enable multiple riders to share the same vehicle, outfitted with Pony.ai autonomous vehicle technology. The app directs passengers to nearby stops for pick up and drop off, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours, or inconvenient fixed routes and schedules.

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

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

BotRide launches with multiple popular destinations where a passenger may hail a ride using the BotRide app. The service area covers several residential, commercial, and institutional points of interest. BotRide’s technology prioritizes passenger-to-system interactions such as automated onboard passenger verification, giving riders the chance to familiarize themselves with technologies expected to become commonplace in an autonomous mobility future."

Gallery: BotRide - autonomous Hyundai Kona Electric

BotRide - autonomous Hyundai Kona Electric

2

BotRide - autonomous Hyundai Kona Electric

What do you think?

View

Comments

Christopher Chang, head of business development, strategy and technology division, Hyundai Motor Company said:

“The pilot introduces BotRide to several hundred Irvine residents, including college students. The goal is to study consumer behavior in an autonomous ride-sharing environment. We are going to learn about ecosystems, where the vehicles travel 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 more user-friendly mobility services to customers.”

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Insideevs.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The InsideEVs team

Share this Story

GO TO COMMENTS

(

)

Got a tip for us? Email: tips@insideevs.com

Hide press release Show press release

Hyundai Autonomous Cars Hit the Streets in Irvine, California

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 25, 2019 – Hyundai, in collaboration with Pony.ai and Via, today unveiled BotRide, a shared, on-demand, autonomous vehicle service operating on public roads. Starting on November 4, a fleet of self-driving Hyundai KONA Electric SUVs 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 autonomous ride-sharing environment,” said Christopher Chang, head of business development, strategy and technology division, Hyundai Motor Company. “We are going to learn about ecosystems, where the vehicles travel 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 more user-friendly mobility services to customers.”

Hyundai partnered with Pony.ai to build the self-driving system and with Via to create the BotRide on-demand ridesharing technology and application. Using the BotRide app (iOS and Android), riders can hail an autonomous Hyundai KONA Electric SUV directly from their smartphone. Via’s advanced algorithms enable multiple riders to share the same vehicle, outfitted with Pony.ai autonomous vehicle technology. The app directs passengers to nearby stops for pick up and drop off, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours, or inconvenient fixed routes and schedules.

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

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

BotRide launches with multiple popular destinations where a passenger may hail a ride using the BotRide app. The service area covers several residential, commercial, and institutional points of interest. BotRide’s technology prioritizes passenger-to-system interactions such as automated onboard passenger verification, giving riders the chance to familiarize themselves with technologies expected to become commonplace in an autonomous mobility future.

“Through BotRide, Hyundai is leveraging cutting-edge autonomous vehicle and mobility technologies to introduce a new, safe, and convenient form of transportation to the public,” said Daniel Han, manager, Advanced Product Strategy, Hyundai Motor America. “The BotRide pilot represents an important step in the deployment and eventual commercialization of a growing new mobility business. In addition to the technology partners powering BotRide, the broader city and community ecosystem have also played an important role in making BotRide possible. The BotRide pilot can serve as an example of how cities and companies can come together to truly enable smart cities and smart transportation systems of the future.”

View all comments ( )

Trending

Tesla Opens Self-Driving Cybercab Orders To 'Select Customers' At $29,990

Tesla Opens Self-Driving Cybercab Orders To 'Select Customers' At $29,990

Solid-State Cells Can Make The U.S. Competitive In Batteries Again: CEO

Solid-State Cells Can Make The U.S. Competitive In Batteries Again: CEO

I Took A Rivian R2 On A Camping Trip To The Middle Of The Desert

I Took A Rivian R2 On A Camping Trip To The Middle Of The Desert

Google’s Gemini AI Assistant Now Works On Apple CarPlay

Google’s Gemini AI Assistant Now Works On Apple CarPlay

Latest Stories

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU



The Best EV Lease And Finance Deals In November 2026



Tesla Opens Self-Driving Cybercab Orders To 'Select Customers' At $29,990



Hyundai Is Recalling Nearly 30,000 Kona EVs Because Their Airbags May Not Deploy



Do EVs Wear Tires Faster? Here's What The Studies Show



The Best Hybrid SUVs To Buy In 2026



The VW ID. Buzz Is Getting A New Job As A Robotaxi



Nearly 1 In 3 Hyundais Sold In October Was A Hybrid As High Gas Prices Push Buyers To Pivot