Kia Showcases Drive Wise Autonomous Tech at Geneva Show
Kia’s Drive Wise sub-brand brought a full suite of self-driving and driver assistance technologies to the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, with interactive displays and future rollout targets.
Kia used the 2016 Geneva Motor Show to demonstrate its Drive Wise autonomous driving technologies, as the South Korean manufacturer outlined its ambitions to fit production cars with advanced driver assistance and self-driving features by the end of the decade.
Drive Wise, first announced at CES in early 2016, is the umbrella for Kia’s next-generation Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. The company confirmed a $2 billion investment through 2018 to accelerate development, with the stated goal of launching fully autonomous vehicles by 2030. At Geneva, the brand presented a range of technologies through interactive displays, giving attendees a chance to experience the systems virtually.
Features on display at Geneva
Kia’s Geneva stand focused on six core self-driving and assistance features: Highway Autonomous Driving, Urban Autonomous Driving, Preceding Vehicle Following, Emergency Stop System, Traffic Jam Assist, and a new Autonomous Parking & Out function. These systems are designed to address different driving scenarios, from motorway cruising to city congestion and automated parking.
- Highway Autonomous Driving: Maintains speed, distance and lane position on motorways.
- Urban Autonomous Driving: Navigates city streets and junctions with minimal driver input.
- Preceding Vehicle Following: Tracks and follows the vehicle ahead in traffic.
- Emergency Stop System: Brings the vehicle to a safe halt if the driver is unresponsive.
- Traffic Jam Assist: Manages stop-start traffic with automated control.
- Autonomous Parking & Out: Parks and retrieves the car without driver intervention.
In addition to core driving functions, Kia previewed Human Machine Interface (HMI) concepts such as gesture control, fingerprint recognition and smart device integration. These are intended to streamline the interaction between driver and vehicle as automation increases.
Development and testing progress
Kia’s all-electric Soul EV is the main testbed for the Drive Wise programme. The company has been trialling autonomous prototypes on public roads in the US, after securing a Nevada testing licence. Testing has focused on both urban and highway environments, including challenging conditions in Death Valley.
Kia’s approach echoes moves by other global manufacturers investing in self-driving technology, as the sector races to bring advanced automation to market. The Geneva display marked a public step in positioning Kia within this competitive field, with a clear timeline and working prototypes.
For broader context on the current challenges of self-driving systems, see/reports-show-self-driving-cars-are-far-from-perfect-at-this-point.
