The “2023 Daegu & Korea International Future Auto & Mobility Expo (2023 DIFA Expo)” held in October at Exco, South Korea celebrated the unveiling of the latest advancements in the field of autonomous driving technology. The expo, this year, was a testament to its growth as it witnessed groundbreaking products and technologies introduced by over 230 domestic and international companies.
Fostering the Autonomous Driving Industry
This year, the Korea Autonomous Driving Development Innovation Foundation(KADIF) caught the spotlight. The team at KADIF aims to realize level 4+ autonomous driving, encapsulating unstructured objects, by 2027. During the Expo, they unveiled technologies related to their key strategic area – “ICT Convergence Innovation Technologies”. Remarkable amazement was expressed by visitors who had hands-on experience with the autonomous driving simulators and vehicles showcased by KADIF.
KADIF’s presence at the exhibition served to express their determination to lead in the autonomous driving technology and industrial ecosystem expansion. This they plan on accomplishing by supporting infrastructure development, including legal regulations, communication, precise maps, roads, and control in readiness for level 4+ autonomous driving.
Spotlight on Autonomous a2z
Autonomous a2z, led by Han Ji-Hyeong, stole the show with their production-ready, fully autonomous mobility at DIFA. They unveiled their latest “Project MS” and “Project SD” which are set to revolutionize the autonomous mobility and independent delivery mobility platforms respectively.
The autonomous shuttle from Autonomous a2z generated considerable excitement amongst the audience, with forward-looking plans to introduce pilot vehicles by 2025 and expected to produce over 1,000 vehicles annually by 2030.
The Emergence of Autonomous Driving Customization
Deep tech startup FutureDrive presented “D-U-A (Design-yoUr-Autonomy)”, an autonomous driving platform that caters to customer needs. With their D-U-A platform, FutureDrive aspires to establish an open technological ecosystem that propels innovation in autonomous driving.
South Korea’s First Bi-Folding Electric Bus
Woojin Industrial Systems drew significant attention with their electric bus, “Apollo 1200,” the first bi-folding electric bus in South Korea. The bus, equipped with high-efficiency Samsung SDI batteries and aluminum body technology, offered a poignant glimpse of future public transportation.
This annual expo, now in its 7th iteration, illustrates a promising blend of technology and mobility. Together with South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, it remains devoted to introducing the latest policy directions and technological achievements in anticipation of the forthcoming era of fully autonomous driving services and urban air mobility.
To keep up with the latest exciting developments in autonomous driving, be sure to follow our coverage of the industry’s wave-making events and exhibitions.