Autonomous Driving Allowed Only in Very Narrow Areas
South Korean automakers are facing reverse discrimination due to excessive regulations related to autonomous driving, remote parking and remote software update.
One of the typical examples is Tesla’s Smart Summon feature, which is to bring a Tesla car at a distance of up to 60 meters. However, according to the current law of South Korea, the maximum possible distance is 6 meters.
Unlike in the United States, autonomous driving in South Korea is allowed only in very narrow areas. For example, Nevada passed a bill in May this year so that self-driving cars are fully allowed in the state on condition that their speed does not exceed 40 miles per hour. Motional, a company invested by Hyundai Motor Group, is developing self-driving cars in Las Vegas. On the other hand, autonomous driving in South Korea is allowed only in some industrial complexes and parks in Sejong and Gwangju.
EV battery safety-related regulations are tighter in South Korea, too. Specifically, in South Korea, a lithium battery can be used in an electric vehicle only after it passes a 4.9 meter drop test. In contrast, the height required by the United Nations is one meter. South Korean automakers have pointed out that such tight regulations cannot but result in a decline in price competitiveness.