South Korea’s Hyundai Glovis Co. is poised to become the world’s first shipping company to deploy artificial intelligence-based autonomous navigation systems on its fleet of car carriers in a bold move that could reshape the future of maritime logistics.
The logistics unit of Hyundai Motor Group has signed a deal with Avikus Co., a subsidiary of HD Hyundai Co. specializing in autonomous vessel technology, to install the systems on seven of its pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) by the end of the first half of 2026, people familiar with the matter said on Friday.
The initiative represents a significant technological leap in the commercial shipping sector, where autonomous systems remain at the early stages of deployment.
Hyundai Glovis, better known in the West as Glovis, plans to equip each of the seven vessels, including the 7,000-vehicle capacity Sunrise, with Avikus’ Level-2 Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) platform.
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, sources said.
“An autonomous ship is particularly effective for PCTCs, which operate on long-haul, point-to-point routes linking Asia to Europe or North America,” said a source at Hyundai Glovis. “We plan to expand the use of autonomous navigation across more vessels once the benefits are proven.”
The Sunrise, 229.9-meter-long, 32.2-meter-wide and 36-meter-high, will be the world’s first to feature such AI-driven capabilities, sources said.
Hyundai Glovis mainly handles vehicles made by Hyundai Motor Group’s two automaking units – Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. – for overseas shipments. The firm also counts Volkswagen AG and other global carmakers among its clients.