Kumho has become a partner of another developer of unmanned transport

Korean companies Kumho Tire and Lotte Innovate have signed a memorandum of understanding and agreed to combine their capabilities in the development of "smart" tires and autonomous transportation to enhance their competitiveness in the future mobility sector. Last year, Kumho also became a partner of the Autonomous a2z startup, which is also involved in the development of drones.

"Smart" tires are equipped with sensors that can collect data on their temperature, wear, and pressure level, and Lotte intends to use this information to improve the safety of autonomous transportation and enhance the efficiency of maintenance, which can be performed in a predictive mode.

Last year, Lotte used "smart" tires on autonomous tourist shuttles on Jeju Island, and the company says that the collected data was actively used to ensure the stable operation of the service. In 2026, it is planned to expand the application of this model in the same region.

Together with Kumho, the company plans to systematically collect and analyze data on tire usage not only on Jeju Island but throughout Korea, and the obtained information will be used to improve the safety and reliability of autonomous transportation, as well as to introduce new innovations in the mobility sector. Kumho, as part of the project, will provide special tires for Lotte's autonomous shuttles and will also use the collected data to improve the characteristics of its products. In addition, the necessary technical support will be provided.

"We will maximize the safety and efficiency of autonomous transportation using the data obtained during the demonstration tests of intelligent tires, and in cooperation with Kumho, we will become the leader of the domestic future mobility industry," Lotte said.

Photo: hankyung.com