The Future Is Here: Kia Shows How to Drive a Car “By Phone” from Hundreds of Miles Away

Kia has become the first Korean automaker to pull off a real-world demonstration of remote vehicle control on public roads. The test took place on Jeju Island with officials, industry partners, and government agencies observing the trial.

The technology allows an operator to control a driverless vehicle from a remote command center using 4G and 5G networks. Kia sees the system as a backup for situations where autonomous features fail, as well as a foundation for new mobility services and support programs in regions with limited transportation options.

To move the project forward, Kia formed a consortium with Socar, SUM, and KT. Kia oversaw the entire program; Socar supplied its car-sharing platform; SUM handled the development of the remote-driving solution and test vehicles; and KT provided the telecommunications backbone. The setup is built around the PV5 model, outfitted with redundant communication channels and multi-layer safety protocols.

During the second testing phase, the vehicles logged roughly 70 hours and about 1,000 kilometers on routes around Jeju. The trial delivered the data engineers need to keep advancing the technology.