Hyundai Mobis Co., auto parts making unit of South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, said on Thursday that it has successfully developed the country’s first short-range radar for autonomous vehicles using independent technology.

The high-definition short-range radars will be supplied to domestic automakers including Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. from 2020, helping them to reduce cost through the import alternative as well as the final retail price

A short-range radar is an equipment applied to blind-spot collision warning system that alerts drivers vehicles that enter the blind spot by sensing location and speed of cars following behind. Local automakers depended on imports or jointly-developed items for short-range radars.

Hyundai Mobis said that its short-range radar provides double the interpretation speed as to other radars developed by foreign rivals and 1.5 times longer minimum distance in which the radar can distinguish an object. The radar also weighs only 120 grams, which is half of existing radars, enhancing cost competitiveness, the company said.

Hyundai Mobis, meanwhile, is aiming to develop all four types of radars that are essential to autonomous driving by this year to be equipped with the full lineup depending on coverage for short-range, middle-range, and long-range. The company has also partnered with two German radar manufacturers SMS and ASTYX to develop high-performance front long-range radar.

An unnamed official from Hyundai Mobis said that it has gained competitiveness to develop radars to advance into the autonomous sensor market that has been dominated by only a few manufacturers from North America and Europe. The company will put out efforts for orders from global automakers.

Shares of Hyundai Mobis jumped 1.58 percent to close at 224,500 won ($200.4) on Thursday.

By Kim Jung-hwan and Lee Eun-joo

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