Hyundai Glovis deploys world’s first AI-controlled car carrier ships

Hyundai Glovis is deploying the world’s first AI-controlled autonomous navigation systems on car carrier ships, partnering with Avikus to retrofit seven vessels with Level-2 Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship platforms by mid-2026. This $6.5 billion initiative represents the first commercial deployment of integrated AI decision-making systems across multiple car carriers, potentially transforming maritime logistics where full AI autonomy has remained largely theoretical.

What you should know: The AI system, branded as HiNAS (HD Hyundai Intelligent Navigation Assistant System), enables partial remote control and real-time route optimization rather than full autonomy.

• Glovis plans to install the technology on vessels including the 229.9-meter-long Sunrise, which can carry up to 7,000 vehicles and may become the largest ship ever equipped with AI-driven autonomy.
• The ships measure approximately 750 feet long and weigh nearly 100,000 tons, making them among the most massive AI-controlled vessels ever conceived.
• Installation will be complete across all seven pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) by mid-2026.

Why this matters: The deployment marks a shift from theoretical AI maritime applications to practical commercial use, with potential implications for fuel efficiency and operational optimization across global shipping routes.

• Japanese and European competitors have tested AI-enhanced routing, but Glovis’ approach represents the first wide deployment of integrated decision-making systems on multiple car carriers.
• The initiative positions South Korea’s shipping industry at the forefront of autonomous maritime technology as the sector moves beyond research phases.

The technology behind it: Avikus, the autonomous vessel technology arm of HD Hyundai, developed the HiNAS system after gaining attention for completing the world’s first transatlantic voyage by an LNG carrier using Level-2 autonomous technology in 2022.

• The company is now targeting Level-3 and Level-4 capabilities, which would enable full unmanned operation by 2027.
• Avikus has been expanding partnerships with firms like Sinokor and H-Line as part of its broader autonomous shipping strategy.

What they’re saying: Industry officials highlight the strategic advantages for long-haul shipping routes.

• “An autonomous ship is particularly effective for PCTCs, which operate on long-haul, point-to-point routes linking Asia to Europe or North America,” a Glovis official noted.
• “While competitors have added what amounts to smart navigation, Glovis is effectively giving ships the ability to make decisions and optimize performance on their own,” said a shipping analyst familiar with the project.

Strategic context: The partnership reflects deeper convergence between South Korea’s industrial giants, despite Glovis and Avikus belonging to different branches of the Hyundai family.

• Hyundai Glovis has committed 9 trillion won (approximately $6.5 billion) in investment through 2030 as part of its transformation into a smart logistics solutions company.
• The decision to partner with Avikus rather than develop proprietary technology raises questions about long-term flexibility and control over future software updates.