Lotte Innovate, Kumho Tire team up on smart tire trials

(Lotte Innovate)

Lotte Innovate said on Tuesday that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Kumho Tire to jointly advance the practical development of autonomous driving and smart tire technologies.

The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue mutual technological improvements through real-world trials applying autonomous vehicles and smart tires. The agreement aims to combine Lotte Innovate’s autonomous driving capabilities with Kumho Tire’s smart tire technology to secure differentiated competitiveness in the future mobility market.

Smart tires are equipped with embedded sensors that collect risk-related data in real time, monitoring tire wear, air pressure and temperature. Lotte Innovate plans to leverage data gathered from smart tire sensors during autonomous vehicle operations to enhance driving safety and strengthen the prediction and prevention of potential risks. The initiative is expected to create a safer and more efficient autonomous driving environment while significantly improving maintenance efficiency.

Lotte Innovate has already been utilizing accumulated driving data alongside smart tires in its Jeju-based autonomous tourism project to deliver stable autonomous services. The company plans to continue operating autonomous tourism shuttles in Jeju this year, further expanding its data-driven operating model.

Building on the latest agreement, Lotte Innovate intends to move beyond Jeju-based trials and systematically collect and analyze real-world driving data and tire condition information nationwide. The company said it will focus on enhancing the safety and reliability of autonomous services while driving broader innovation across mobility operations.

Kumho Tire will supply smart tire systems and dedicated tires for Lotte Innovate’s autonomous shuttles and plans to strengthen technical support by improving product performance and reliability based on data collected during trial operations.

The two companies also plan to create synergies across various business areas, including data integration from trial runs, joint technological innovation and co-marketing efforts.