Hyundai Motor Group said on Tuesday that it plans to invest $34.65 billion&nbsp;in mobility technology and strategic investments by 2025, as South Korea's top automaker accelerates its attempts to catch up in the self-driving car race.

The plan, which Hyundai said encompassed autonomously, connected and electric vehicles, comes after the company and two of its affiliates announced an investment of $1.6 billion in a joint venture with US&nbsp;self-driving tech firm Aptiv.

Hyundai's plan also received a boost from the South Korean government, which said on Tuesday that it plans to spend 1.7 trillion won from 2021-27 to boost autonomous vehicle technology.

The government expects Hyundai to launch a nationwide service of fully autonomous cars to fleet customers in 2024 and the general public by 2027.

This push is part of a blueprint for future cars President Moon Jae-in announced at an event at Hyundai Motor's research centre near Seoul.

The government said it was conducting a feasibility study for its proposed funding boost, which would include parts, systems and infrastructure. It said Korea lags behind in self-driving car software and key parts like sensors and chips, despite the country's advanced, fifth-generation mobile data network.

South Korea also said it would prepare a regulatory and legal framework to ensure the safety of autonomous cars by 2024.

"We will actively transition from combustion-engine cars to future cars," Industry Minister Sung Yoon-mo said at a media briefing on Tuesday.

The government also aims to lay the technological and legal groundwork for the demonstration of flying cars in 2025. Hyundai Motor's executive vice-chairman Euisun Chung has said the company is looking at developing flying cars, which could be commercialized ahead of the most advanced self-driving cars.

Hyundai Motor Group said on Tuesday that it plans to invest $34.65 billion in mobility technology and strategic investments by 2025, as South Korea's top automaker accelerates its attempts to catch up in the self-driving car race.

Hyundai Motor Group said on Tuesday that it plans to invest $34.65 billion in mobility technology and strategic investments by 2025, as South Korea's top automaker accelerates its attempts to catch up in the self-driving car race. The plan, which Hyundai said encompassed autonomously, connected and electric vehicles, comes after the company and two of its affiliates announced an investment of $1.6 billion in a joint venture with US self-driving tech firm Aptiv. Hyundai's plan also received a boost from the South Korean government, which said on Tuesday that it plans to spend 1.7 trillion won from 2021-27 to boost autonomous vehicle technology. The government expects Hyundai to launch a nationwide service of fully autonomous cars to fleet customers in 2024 and the general public by 2027. This push is part of a blueprint for future cars President Moon Jae-in announced at an event at Hyundai Motor's research centre near Seoul. The government said it was conducting a feasibility study for its proposed funding boost, which would include parts, systems and infrastructure. It said Korea lags behind in self-driving car software and key parts like sensors and chips, despite the country's advanced, fifth-generation mobile data network. South Korea also said it would prepare a regulatory and legal framework to ensure the safety of autonomous cars by 2024. "We will actively transition from combustion-engine cars to future cars," Industry Minister Sung Yoon-mo said at a media briefing on Tuesday. The government also aims to lay the technological and legal groundwork for the demonstration of flying cars in 2025. Hyundai Motor's executive vice-chairman Euisun Chung has said the company is looking at developing flying cars, which could be commercialized ahead of the most advanced self-driving cars.

Hyundai Motor Group to invest $35 billion in future automotive tech

The world&#39;s first driverless taxis hit Singapore in a limited public trial on Thursday, reported Reuters. A full launch of the service is planned in 2018. 
 
The trial rides were available to a select group invited by the developer, nuTonomy. Users had to download the app and then try out the taxi ride (for free) in a western Singapore hi-tech business district. 
 
&quot;This is really a moment in history that&#39;s going to change how cities are built, how we really look at our surroundings,&quot; nuTonomy executive Doug Parker told Reuters. 
 
The trial rides took place in a Mitsubishi i-MiEv electric vehicle, with an engineer sitting behind the steering wheel to monitor the system and take control if necessary. 
 
Parker, whose company has partnered with the Singapore government on the project, hopes to have 100&nbsp;taxis working commercially in the Southeast Asian city state by 2018. 
 
The trial is on an on-going basis, nuTonomy said, and follows private testing that began in April. 
 
Nutonomy is one of several companies racing to launch self-driving vehicles, with automakers and technology firms striking new alliances. 
 
Swedish automaker Volvo AB said last week it had agreed to a $300-million alliance with ride-hailing service Uber to develop a&nbsp;driverless&nbsp;vehicle. 
 
Israeli driving assistant software maker Mobileye NV said its vehicle, developed with Delphi Automotive Plc, would be ready for production by 2019, while Ford Motor Co said its self-driving car was slated for 2021. 
 
(Reuters)

The cars, developed by nuTonomy, have an engineer sitting behind the steering wheel to take control if necessary

The world's first driverless taxis hit Singapore in a limited public trial on Thursday, reported Reuters. A full launch of the service is planned in 2018. The trial rides were available to a select group invited by the developer, nuTonomy. Users had to download the app and then try out the taxi ride (for free) in a western Singapore hi-tech business district. "This is really a moment in history that's going to change how cities are built, how we really look at our surroundings," nuTonomy executive Doug Parker told Reuters. The trial rides took place in a Mitsubishi i-MiEv electric vehicle, with an engineer sitting behind the steering wheel to monitor the system and take control if necessary. Parker, whose company has partnered with the Singapore government on the project, hopes to have 100 taxis working commercially in the Southeast Asian city state by 2018. The trial is on an on-going basis, nuTonomy said, and follows private testing that began in April. Nutonomy is one of several companies racing to launch self-driving vehicles, with automakers and technology firms striking new alliances. Swedish automaker Volvo AB said last week it had agreed to a $300-million alliance with ride-hailing service Uber to develop a driverless vehicle. Israeli driving assistant software maker Mobileye NV said its vehicle, developed with Delphi Automotive Plc, would be ready for production by 2019, while Ford Motor Co said its self-driving car was slated for 2021. (Reuters)

First driverless taxis hit Singapore streets

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Hyundai Motor Group to invest $35 billion in future automotive tech

First driverless taxis hit Singapore streets