Samsung approved to test self-driving cars in South Korea

Samsung has been approved by the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport to test self-driving cars on public roads.

According to The Korea Herald, what’s being tested is a “commercialized Hyundai vehicle equipped with the latest cameras and sensors.” Little else was revealed about the autonomous vehicle, however.

The goal is to bolster growth in this industry in the country. “Self-driving cars call for the collaboration of various cutting-edge technologies from the automobile, artificial intelligence and information communication sectors,” the ministry said, noting that it will continue to make efforts to push such technology.

At this point, there’s no word on whether the testing will expand into other countries at a later date.

This news follows Apple receiving a permit in California earlier this month for the testing of its own self-driving cars. The two tech giants are hardly the only ones to take an active interest in this self-driving cars, though.

Earlier this year, Google, Tesla and BMW’s autonomous vehicles were tested and ranked by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

And outside of tech companies, Amazon has also been said to be investigating such technology, with The Wall Street Journal reporting earlier this month that the e-commerce giant formed a team focusing on best practices with self-driving vehicles.

Source: The Korea Herald