Kia (000270.KS) PV5 taxis that can be used by both wheelchair users and the general public will be operated in Seoul for the first time in Korea.
Kia said Saturday that it will participate in the "Universal Design (UD) Taxi" pilot program that the Seoul Metropolitan Government will launch on July 1.
Unlike conventional taxis for the disabled, UD taxis can be conveniently used not only by wheelchair users but also by general passengers. It is a new transportation model that the Seoul Metropolitan Government is introducing for the first time in the country.
The PV5 introduced in the UD taxi pilot is a "WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle)" model. It features a 740-mm-wide two-stage folding slope, allowing users of manual and electric wheelchairs to board and disembark through the vehicle's side door.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will operate 12 PV5 WAV-based UD taxis through December. They will be dispatched first to people with severe mobility disabilities, while general passengers can use them in the same manner and at the same cost as existing mid-size taxis.
Customer data such as usage records and satisfaction levels collected during the six-month pilot will be used to decide whether to expand UD taxi operations in the future.
Kia and the Seoul Metropolitan Government expect that this UD taxi pilot will help resolve the shortage of call taxis for the disabled and meet the mobility demand of transportation-vulnerable groups such as the disabled and the elderly.
Overseas, UD taxis such as the United Kingdom's "Black Cab" and Japan's "JPN Taxi" have established themselves as everyday transportation used by both transportation-vulnerable and general passengers.
Because a single vehicle can support mobility for the disabled as well as operate as a regular taxi, it is also expected to help the taxi industry improve operational efficiency and profitability.
Starting with the UD taxi pilot with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Kia plans to pursue cooperation on vehicle supply and operation with other local governments.
"The PV5 WAV is a customized mobility solution that prioritized the convenience of transportation-vulnerable groups from the planning stage," a Kia official said. "Through this cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, we will take the lead in breaking down the boundaries between the disabled and non-disabled, and in building an innovative mobility ecosystem where anyone can travel freely and safely."
