Hyundai Glovis Co. plans to equip seven car carriers with artificial intelligence-driven navigation systems by mid-2026, according to people familiar with the matter, marking the logistics company’s entry into a nascent technology that promises operational savings but remains largely unproven at scale.
The South Korean unit of Hyundai Motor Group signed an agreement with Avikus Co., a subsidiary of HD Hyundai Co., to install the autonomous navigation technology on its pure car and truck carriers, the people said Friday. The vessels include the 7,000-vehicle capacity Sunrise and ships named Glovis Sky, Sonic and Safety.
While not fully unmanned, the system allows partial remote control and real-time AI-driven route optimization, which could translate into reduced fuel consumption and improved operational efficiency, according to the sources. Previous trials by Avikus demonstrated fuel efficiency improvements of around 7 percent while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about 5 percent.
The deployment represents an ambitious timeline for technology that remains experimental across the broader shipping industry. The global autonomous ships market, valued at approximately $6 billion to $8.5 billion, faces regulatory hurdles and cybersecurity concerns that could complicate widespread adoption.
Hyundai Glovis operates 92 car carriers and has pledged to invest 9 trillion won ($6.5 billion) across logistics and shipping by 2030, suggesting the autonomous navigation initiative forms part of a broader technology modernization effort. The company primarily handles vehicles from Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp.
