South Korean domestic carmaker KG Mobility Corporation plans to expand the scope of its recently-launched autonomous driving taxi trials in Seoul in collaboration with its software partner SWM Company, according to local reports.

The automaker, known previously as SsangYong Motor before it was acquired by KG Group in 2022, launched a trial self-driving taxi service last month in Seoul’s central Gangnam and Seocho-dong districts, with three cars operating between 11pm and 5am.

KG Mobility said it now aims to increase the level of autonomous driving to Level 4, whereby human intervention is almost entirely unnecessary. It will also expand the number of vehicles and the coverage area to include the Sinsa, Nonhyeon and Samsung-dong neighbourhoods.

KG Mobility said it has also carried out separate research into safety verification for Level 4 autonomous driving since last year, as part of a government-funded project.

SWM is also conducting self-driving taxi trials with local automaker Kia Corporation.