Skip to main content

Autonomous A2Z

Category: AI in Government / Public Sector

A leading Level 4 autonomous driving technology company specializing in purpose-built vehicles (PBVs) and software solutions for smart city mobility and logistics. Autonomous A2Z was founded in 2018. The company is led by Han Ji-hyeong. Based in Gyeongsan, South Korea. Team size: 220. Total funding raised: ₩122.5B (~$82.3M). Latest round: Pre-IPO. Key investors include Korea Development Bank (KDB), KB Investment, KB Securities, Hana Ventures, Kakao Mobility, Shilla Assets, Envester, Xplor Investment, DS Investment Partners, Daesung Private Equity, Soo Investment Capital, E&Venture Partners.

Founded
2018
Headquarters
Gyeongsan, South Korea
Team size
220
Total funding
₩122.5B (~$82.3M)

Value proposition

Provides a high-safety, hardware-software integrated autonomous platform that is vehicle-agnostic, enabling rapid deployment of driverless shuttles and delivery bots with over 500,000 km of real-road verification data.

Products and solutions

Project MS (ROii): A 12-seater Level 4 autonomous shuttle for public transit and campus mobility., Project SD (COii): An unmanned delivery vehicle designed for logistics and last-mile delivery (300kg+ capacity)., a2z Solution: A proprietary Level 4 autonomous driving software stack (perception, judgment, control)., LiDAR Infrastructure System (LIS): Smart city road-side units (RSU) that support V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) communication., Remote Monitoring & Control System: A high-redundancy safety system for remote emergency intervention.

Unique value

Ranked 7th globally in the 2025 Guidehouse Insights Automated Driving Leaderboard (highest for a Korean company); maintains high survival and tech independence by focusing on government-led smart city R&D and specialized PBVs rather than general consumer vehicles.

Target customer

Municipalities (Smart Cities), logistics and delivery companies, public transit operators, and industrial/airport facility managers.

Industries served

Public Transportation, Logistics & E-commerce, Smart City Infrastructure, Special Purpose Vehicles (Cleaning, Patrol, Industrial)

Technology advantage

Maintains a 'Vehicle-Agnostic' software architecture capable of being retrofitted or integrated into diverse platforms (from micro-cars to buses); features a unique 'LiDAR-centric' perception system complemented by infrastructure-based V2X sensors to overcome vehicle-only sensor limitations.

How they differentiate

Focuses on specialized Level 4 Purpose-Built Vehicles (PBVs) rather than general passenger cars. It utilizes a proprietary 'LiDAR Infrastructure System (LIS)' to overcome vehicle-only sensor limitations through V2X communication, providing a hardware-software integrated safety moat.

Main competitors

42dot (Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary), RideFlux, SWM, Pony.ai

Key partnerships

Space42 (UAE): Established a joint venture for Middle East market expansion., Kia & KG Mobility: Strategic collaboration for Purpose-Built Vehicle (PBV) platform development., Kanematsu (Japan): MOU for joint business development in the Japanese autonomous market., Kakao Mobility: Partnership for autonomous taxi and shuttle service integration., Horiba Mira (UK): Collaboration on international safety standards and testing., Grab (Singapore): Launched autonomous shuttle bus pilot in Singapore (July 2025)., NEC & Denno Kotsu (Japan): Level 4 autonomous taxi demonstration in Naruto City (Feb 2026).

Notable customers

Sejong City, Daegu City, Ansan City, Kakao Mobility (Service Partner), Space42 (UAE JV Partner), Grab (Singapore)

Major milestones

Ranked 7th globally in the 2025 Guidehouse Insights Automated Driving Leaderboard, Completed Series C funding round of ₩30.0B in Dec 2024, Selected as a 'Pre-Unicorn' by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (2024), First Korean company to obtain Singapore's M1 Autonomous Vehicle License (2023), Established Middle East joint venture with UAE's Space42 (2023), Completed ₩40.5B pre-IPO funding round (Mar 2026), Launched autonomous shuttle pilot with Grab in Singapore (Jul 2025), Launched Level 4 autonomous taxi pilot in Naruto, Japan (Feb 2026), Obtained South Korean government approval to export autonomous driving technology to UAE (2026)

Growth metrics

Maintains the highest global ranking for a Korean firm in the Guidehouse Insights Automated Driving Leaderboard (7th in 2025); Cumulative road testing exceeding 500,000 km.

Market positioning

Global top-tier Level 4 autonomous technology leader specializing in smart city mobility and public transit solutions.

Geographic focus

South Korea, UAE, Singapore, Japan

Patents and IP

Holds over 12 registered patents and 24 pending applications focused on autonomous perception, judgment, and vehicle control algorithms.

About Han Ji-hyeong

Han Ji-hyeong is a veteran automotive engineer with over 15 years of experience at Hyundai Motor Company's Advanced Research Institute (2002-2018). He played a pivotal role in leading high-profile projects, including the development of the Nexo autonomous vehicle and highway self-driving systems demonstrated during the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Following his tenure at Hyundai, he served as a professor at Kyungil University before co-founding Autonomous A2Z with three other senior Hyundai engineers. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Korea Autonomous Driving Industry Association.

Official website: