Hyundai, Kia to launch solution for mobility impaired in Singapore

South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. are extending their Universal Mobility Project to Singapore with a new initiative aimed at aiding the visually impaired and other vulnerable individuals, the companies said on Tuesday.

Following the first phase of the project, "EnableLA," completed in Los Angeles last year, the automakers are partnering with Singaporean agency SG Enable and the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) for this next stage dubbed "Universal Mobility 2.0."

The nine-week pilot will be held at Singapore's Enabling Village, a community and educational hub for individuals with disabilities.

It will feature mobile app-based navigation solutions to assist visually impaired and wheelchair-using individuals in indoor and outdoor walking navigation. 

A specialized audio mode for visually impaired users will provide real-time obstacle information.

The initiative aligns with Hyundai and Kia's Smart City vision, which was unveiled at the 2022 World Cities Summit in Singapore. The vision aims to create urban environments that cater to a range of mobility needs, including those of individuals with disabilities.

Upon completion of the pilot, Hyundai and Kia plan to integrate these solutions into a comprehensive package for application in future smart cities.

Write to Sungsu Bae at baebae@hankyung.com