South Korean companies are joining the race to develop high-precision 3D maps with their proprietary technology, hoping to squeeze into the burgeoning market dominated by Google and other global names.

According to industry sources on Sunday, Hyundai Motor Group has decided to use maps from digital mapping company HERE for its cars to be sold in overseas markets while locally developing proprietary map technology through its subsidiary Hyundai MnSoft Inc, a navigation system provider.

In 2015, Hyundai MnSoft sold off its hardware business to focus its effort on the development of digital maps and geographic information system. The firm has been building a highly detailed map for autonomous vehicles to be run during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in February. Korea’s largest auto group is also said to be seeking a possible takeover target or business partner in the digital map industry through its Silicon Valley-based entity Hyundai Ventures.

High-precision 3D map pinpoints a car’s location and helps understand its surroundings, a key piece of the puzzle in ensuring the safety of driverless cars. The mapmaking process is an expensive, laborious task as it needs to process a monumental amount of data and requires a much higher level of precision than typical navigational maps.

The global digital map market is currently led by HERE, a subsidiary of Nokia, along with Alphabet’s Google Maps and the Amsterdam-based TomTom. In an effort to reduce technology dependence on the leading global players, Korean firms are accelerating their efforts to develop their own mapping systems.

Mando Corp., a Korean auto parts supplier, is also bent on securing its own mapping technology as part of its drive to develop the self-driving system. “High-precision maps are crucial for attaining more advanced automation in self-driving cars,” said Kang Hyung-jin of Mando Central Research Center. He added that the company is also considering collaboration with other mapping and technology firms to solve its current technical challenges.

Local telecommunications companies including SK Telecom Co. and KT Corp. are also joining the digital mapping race on the back of their high-speed networks. SK Telecom has recently teamed up with Nvidia Corp., the U.S.-based graphics processing units (GPU) manufacturing giant, to produce high-definition versions of its T Map for autonomous vehicles.

By Park Chang-young

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]