Kia granted approval to test driverless cars in Nevada
Kia joins Hyundai in securing permission from Nevada to conduct autonomous vehicle trials on public roads, focusing on the Soul EV equipped with advanced driver assistance systems.
Kia has received authorisation from the US state of Nevada to begin testing autonomous vehicles on public roads, following its sister company Hyundai. The move positions both Korean manufacturers among the growing number of carmakers trialling self-driving technology in real-world American conditions.
Kia plans to use its Soul EV as the main test vehicle, fitting it with a suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). These include Traffic Jam Assist, Highway Autonomous Driving, Urban Autonomous Driving, Emergency Stop System and Autonomous Valet Parking. The company aims to refine both partially- and fully-autonomous functions under real traffic conditions, accelerating development alongside Hyundai, which has already begun similar trials in the state.
Nevada's role in autonomous vehicle development
Nevada has established itself as a key location for autonomous driving trials since passing legislation in 2011 to allow such testing. The state has previously granted permits to Google, Audi and Freightliner, making it a focal point for both passenger and commercial vehicle autonomy. Kia's entry follows a growing list of global manufacturers seeking to validate their systems in varied and open-road scenarios.
- Google and Audi among the first to test in Nevada
- Freightliner expanded permits to commercial vehicles
- Hyundai and Kia now both active in the state
Kia and Hyundai have committed a combined $2 billion investment up to 2018 to accelerate the development of autonomous technologies. This funding supports not only technical development but also the recruitment of additional engineers. Kia has set a target to introduce partially-autonomous features across its range, including eco-friendly models, by 2020, with a fully-autonomous vehicle planned for 2030.
Technology focus: Soul EV and ADAS features
The test programme will centre on the Soul EV, which is already known for its electric drivetrain. The autonomous prototypes will be equipped with a package of ADAS technologies aimed at handling urban, highway and traffic jam scenarios, as well as parking and emergency interventions. These trials are intended to bring the systems closer to production readiness and to inform future safety and convenience offerings across Kia's line-up.
Kia's Nevada testing is part of a broader industry push to validate autonomous driving systems on public roads. For context on similar regulatory developments, see California Issues First Autonomous Car Testing Permits to Audi, Google and Mercedes-Benz.
