Recently, there is one area that global automakers such as Hyundai Motor Company and Tesla are focusing on, “an autonomous car.” Companies are making great efforts to develop level 4 or higher autonomous driving technology that can cope with unexpected situations without driver intervention. However, advanced autonomous driving technology is not commercialized in the general consumer market due to its high price.

Han Ji-hyeong (Department of Mechanical Engineering, class of ‘99) alumni is solving this problem by developing “Purpose-Built Vehicles" equipped with advanced technology. We interviewed Han and heard about the foundation of “a2z”, which is leading the domestic autonomous vehicle market.

Please introduce us about a2z.

a2z is a company that develops future mobility, an autonomous vehicle. We're making everything from software, which is an autonomous technology, to hardware, an actual vehicle.

Why did you start an autonomous car company?

Before the establishment of a2z, Hyundai Motor Company developed technology for autonomous driving. There, they prepared for the commercialization of autonomous driving but thought it was technically premature to apply it to ordinary passenger cars. I founded a2z because I thought it would be realistic to apply autonomous driving technology to Purpose-Built Vehicles (PBVs) that move the same section repeatedly at low speeds.

What are the strengths of autonomous cars developed by a2z?

The car developed by a2z can freely drive autonomously in various environments. When it rains or snows a lot, autonomous driving often doesn't work normally. Still, the a2z's cars have sophisticated technology to break the longest driving record in Korea under an uncontrolled and complex urban environment.

Why did you emphasize making and using autonomous vehicles as public goods?

Currently, autonomous driving technology is sold as an option in the automobile market. When targeting ordinary consumers, it is not easy for the option to exceed KRW 20 million. Due to these practical problems, it is difficult to introduce complete autonomous driving capabilities to regular passenger cars.

However, more funds can be invested if autonomous cars are made into public goods. Also, Purpose-Built Vehicles have a fixed speed and sector, making it much easier to apply autonomous driving technology. If the market starts to grow, starting with public goods, parts prices will go down and we can expect the commercialization of technology.
 

Not long ago, I read an article about a2z signing an MOU for autonomous public roads in Geneva. What will this move mean for the domestic autonomous driving market in the future?

The countries leading autonomous driving technology are the United States and China. However, autonomous driving technology is still in its infancy, so there is not much difference in technology between countries. Therefore, it is important to inform the world of Korea's excellent autonomous driving technology and receive investment from various companies.

In addition, laws and regulations on autonomous vehicles have not yet been overhauled. The code is set by the United Nations, and the venue for discussion is Geneva, Switzerland. A2z is trying to promote our technology naturally by providing autonomous routes from Geneva Airport to the United Nations (UN) Headquarters).
 

Do you remember anything while preparing to start a business?

There were many difficulties in starting a business while quitting a stable job. It took about a year to start a business due to strong opposition from people around me.

You graduated from Hanyang University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. Is there anything you remember from your undergraduate days?

I participated in an English conversation club called HERA when I was an undergraduate. Currently, three of the co-founders of a2z are alumni of Hanyang University, and most of the employees are alumni of Hanyang University as well. The relationship met in University greatly helped the company to grow.

What do you think is the value of autonomous technology?

People's lifestyles have changed 180 degrees since smartphones were first introduced. I think autonomous technology can bring out bigger changes than smartphones. Currently, as the number of cars owned increases, various urban problems such as lack of parking lots, exhausts, and traffic accidents are occurring. However, if autonomous public buses are introduced, I believe they can solve social problems beyond providing convenience to citizens.