Kakao Mobility presented a roadmap for Level 4 autonomous driving technologies and robotaxi services at the 2026 World IT Show [1].

This move signals a shift toward "physical AI," a strategy designed to bridge the gap between digital AI and real-world physical movement. By automating high-level driving tasks, the company aims to reduce human intervention in urban transport, potentially transforming how residents of Seoul and other cities navigate their environment.

Presented at COEX in Seoul, the roadmap details the company's path toward commercializing autonomous driving. The strategy focuses on integrating AI into physical hardware to create a system that can operate independently of a human driver in specific conditions. This approach is part of a broader effort to establish the company as a leader in physical AI.

To support this development, Kakao Mobility will recruit talent for next-generation research and development in autonomous driving technology [2]. The recruitment drive is intended to strengthen the R&D pipeline and ensure that the software and hardware integration is seamless. This ensures that the technical hurdles of Level 4 autonomy—which requires the vehicle to perform all driving functions—are addressed through a specialized workforce.

The company's goal is to accelerate the commercial rollout of these services. By focusing on robotaxis, Kakao Mobility is positioning itself to compete in a global market where autonomous vehicle technology is evolving rapidly. The roadmap serves as a blueprint for the transition from experimental testing to a scalable, commercial service that can be integrated into the company's existing mobility own platform.

While the roadmap was presented in 2026 [1], the timeline for full commercialization remains a key metric for the company's ability to actually deploy these services on public roads. The integration of physical AI is intended to provide a more stable and more reliable system than previous iterations of autonomous driving software.

“Kakao Mobility presented a roadmap for Level 4 autonomous driving technologies and robotaxi services.”

The push toward Level 4 autonomy represents a transition from driver-assistance systems to fully autonomous systems within specific geofenced areas. By labeling this a 'physical AI' strategy, Kakao Mobility is attempting to move beyond the software-only approach to AI, focusing on the company's ability to actually implement AI in the physical world. This positions the company as a direct competitor to global robotaxi firms, attempting to integrate these services into a existing mobility ecosystem.