Musk Ignites the ‘B2B Autonomous Driving Market’… Projected to Reach 16.4 Trillion KRW by 2030
Tesla-led Expansion Accelerates Autonomous Driving Market Growth
B2C Full-Self Driving Paves the Way for the Robo-Taxi Era
B2B Infrastructure-Based Autonomous Driving Speeds Up Logistics & Manufacturing Innovation
Projected Market Size of 16.4 Trillion KRW by 2030, Transforming Industry Paradigms
Is fully autonomous driving—where cars drive themselves without human intervention—an impossible feat? Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently announced plans to launch an autonomous taxi service this year, bringing this technology to the forefront as a major industry driver.
According to the mobility industry on February 2nd, the autonomous driving sector, involving both global automakers and startups, is evolving into two key markets: the B2C market, which targets individuals, and the B2B market, which focuses on infrastructure-based solutions. As competition intensifies in both sectors, technological advancements are accelerating.
While B2C autonomous driving aims to revolutionize personal transportation, B2B infrastructure-based solutions focus on transforming logistics, manufacturing, and transportation. Though these sectors are evolving along different paths, the rapid convergence of technologies is expected to significantly reshape the future industrial landscape.
(Left) Tesla B2B Autonomous Driving Solution Video Capture, (Right) BMW-Seoul Robotics B2B Autonomous Driving Solution Video Capture
B2C Autonomous Driving Nears Commercialization… Robo-Taxi Era Begins
The B2C autonomous driving market has primarily developed around personal vehicles. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) at Level 2 autonomy are now widely adopted, with features such as lane-keeping, automatic emergency braking, and smart cruise control becoming standard in vehicles worldwide. Leading global companies like Tesla and Waymo are now accelerating the transition to Level 3 and Level 4 autonomy.
One of the most notable trends is the intense competition among companies striving to lead the era of Full-Self Driving (FSD). Tesla, in particular, is heavily investing in its FSD software, aiming to achieve fully autonomous driving even in urban environments.
On January 29 (local time), Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced in a Q4 earnings conference call that the company plans to launch a paid FSD service in Austin, Texas, by June, without requiring driver supervision.
Musk further stated, "By the end of this year, we will have fully autonomous Tesla services operating in several U.S. cities, and by next year, likely across the entire country." He expressed confidence that by 2026, full self-driving Teslas would be available nationwide in the U.S.
The driverless taxi service Waymo is rapidly expanding its operational areas and intensifying real-world testing. Although challenges such as legal regulations and safety validation remain, industry experts believe that once these issues are addressed, the commercialization of fully autonomous private vehicles will accelerate.
China, one of the world’s largest automotive markets, is known for its rapid technological advancements. The country is investing heavily in autonomous driving technology to establish global leadership in the sector.
China's large-scale robotaxi market is rapidly growing, driven by a mix of major tech companies and innovative startups. Leading the industry is Apollo Go, a subsidiary of tech giant Baidu, followed by Pony.ai and WeRide, both known for their strong technological capabilities. Additionally, electric vehicle manufacturers such as Xpeng and Nio, along with IT giants Alibaba and Tencent, are actively collaborating in the sector. The market's growth is further accelerated by local government initiatives, including regulatory easing and supportive policies.
Amid these developments, the ability of a vehicle to autonomously park itself is becoming an increasingly important factor in consumer purchasing decisions. As a result, "auto parking" is emerging as a key indicator of an automobile’s autonomous driving capabilities in China, with expectations that this trend will spread globally.
Additionally, the Automated Valet Parking (AVP) service is also growing rapidly. As a solution to urban parking congestion and a premium convenience feature in the high-end vehicle market, AVP is driving intense R&D efforts among companies. Once these convenience features reach mass adoption, the demand for in-car services—such as entertainment, work, and shopping—during transit is also expected to increase significantly.
Market size of infrastructure-based B2B autonomous driving sector in 2030
B2B Autonomous Driving Sector: "Infrastructure-Based Autonomous Driving to Lead the 16.4 Trillion Won Market"
A video that created a buzz on social media last month shows a Tesla vehicle autonomously moving from the production line to a designated shipping dock. Those who watched this new unmanned autonomous driving (FSD) technology couldn’t help but be amazed by Tesla’s innovation.
As of 2025, one of the most active cases in the infrastructure-based B2B sector is the automation of the finished vehicle delivery process. According to a study conducted by EY Consulting at the request of Seoul Robotics, a leading company in the industrial autonomous driving sector, and disclosed through IR materials, the market size of the infrastructure-based B2B autonomous driving sector is expected to reach approximately 16.4 trillion won (11.2 billion USD) by 2030.
Typically, after a car is produced in a factory, it goes through a delivery process called "vehicle transport." Once assembly is complete, the vehicles gather in a factory parking lot—export vehicles are transported to ports and loaded onto ships, while domestic vehicles are loaded onto transport trucks for delivery to consumers. Autonomous driving technology is used in the process of moving vehicles from the production line to the parking lot and from the parking lot to the ships or trucks.
Traditionally, this process requires drivers to manually get into each vehicle and drive them to the designated location. However, with infrastructure-based autonomous driving technology, drivers are no longer needed.
Instead of relying on individual vehicle sensors, sensors installed around infrastructure—such as buildings and streetlights—detect vehicle locations and obstacles. The driving software then transmits driving commands wirelessly to the driverless vehicles. These vehicles autonomously move from the assembly area to the logistics area, where they wait for transportation.
Notably, fixed monitoring sensors create a digital twin (a virtual model) that perfectly replicates the real-world environment, enabling object classification and precise vehicle positioning. Additionally, AI-powered weather filtering ensures accurate movement even under extreme weather conditions, such as heavy snowfall or torrential rain.
Companies providing this service operate under contracts where they generate revenue from automakers each time a vehicle transport occurs. EY Consulting predicts that this market will grow to approximately 4.3 trillion won (3 billion USD) by 2030. The cost per transport service is expected to be around 14,000 won (10 USD) per vehicle, which is more than 80% cheaper than the current driver labor cost of approximately 72,000 won (50 USD)—a significant cost-saving opportunity for the industry.
Autonomous Driving Accelerates the 'Smart Transformation' of Logistics Centers… A 11.6 Trillion Won Annual Market
Autonomous driving technology is also making an impact on the logistics industry. In large-scale logistics centers, vehicle entry and exit, parking, and charging management are heavily dependent on human labor, making them some of the most inefficient areas. The SDV (Software Defined Vehicle) parking service within logistics centers utilizes autonomous driving technology to automate vehicle movement, parking, and charging management, solving these inefficiencies.
Companies in this sector aim to commercialize the service at an annual cost of approximately 870,000 won (600 USD) per truck, which is only about 7% of the current hourly labor cost of a truck driver. By 2030, the market is expected to grow to approximately 11.6 trillion won (8 billion USD).
An industry expert emphasized, "Autonomous driving-based warehouse management will not only reduce costs but also minimize risks such as misdeliveries and delays, ultimately enhancing the quality of logistics services."
The content above is a translation of the original source. To view the original content, please click the link below.
