Hyundai Motor-AppTiv JV's New Name 'Motional'... Chung Euisun Accelerates Future Mobility

Motion + Emotional Compound Word
Aptive Autonomous Driving Data + Hyundai Motor Complete Vehicle Manufacturing Technology 'Synergy'
Motional Actively Developing Level 4 Autonomous Driving Technology
Expanding Mobility Business Area by Supplying Autonomous Driving Platform

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Hyundai Motor Group has finalized the new name of its autonomous driving joint venture (JV) established with Aptiv in the United States as 'Motional' and is accelerating the development of autonomous driving platforms. Recently, Hyundai Motor Group has been expanding its future mobility business comprehensively, speeding up its transformation into a 'smart mobility solutions' company led by Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun.

The autonomous driving joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv unveiled its new name to employees worldwide through an online event on the 11th (local time). The new name Motional is a compound word of the English words 'Motion' and 'Emotional.'

Motional, established in March to develop safer and more economical autonomous driving systems, is a joint venture with Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv each investing 50%. Motional is developing autonomous driving technology at Level 4 according to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards and will begin testing fully autonomous driving (Level 5) systems starting this year. In 2022, it plans to supply autonomous driving system-related technologies to robotaxi and mobility service providers.

Executive Vice Chairman Chung said, "Motional is a next-generation innovative company pioneering a new field of safe, economical, and eco-friendly mobility," adding, "Hyundai Motor Group, which has rewritten the history of cutting-edge automotive technology, hopes to continue this legacy together with Motional."

Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv's autonomous driving joint venture, Motional, unveiled a Genesis G90 wrapped with the logo on the 11th (local time) to commemorate the announcement of its company name. Photo by Hyundai Motor Group

Motional's competitiveness comes from the combination of Aptiv's long-accumulated autonomous driving data and Hyundai Motor Group's complete vehicle manufacturing technology. Aptiv crossed the American continent in 2015 with the first fully autonomous vehicle and conducted the world's first robotaxi pilot project in Singapore in 2016. From 2018 to recently, it commercialized robotaxi services for the general public in Las Vegas, USA, accumulating vast autonomous driving data. The service recorded zero accidents over more than 100,000 trips.

Motional plans to first apply the developed autonomous driving platform to Hyundai and Kia vehicles, but its ultimate goal is to supply autonomous driving systems to as many global automakers as possible. Close collaboration with Hyundai and Kia, which possess manufacturing technology, is expected during the platform's testing process.

Headquartered in Boston, USA, Motional employs about 1,000 people worldwide, including branches in Pittsburgh, Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Singapore, and Seoul. Karl Iagnemma, CEO of Motional, emphasized, "Our DNA, combining Aptiv's advanced technology expertise and Hyundai Motor Group's automotive R&D and manufacturing leadership, will fundamentally change the way people move," adding, "We look forward to safe and convenient autonomous driving technology becoming part of everyday life."

Recently, Hyundai Motor Group has been expanding the scope of its future mobility business in various fields such as autonomous driving, electrification, hydrogen energy, and urban air mobility (UAM). On the 10th, Hyundai launched the electric vehicle-exclusive brand 'Ioniq' as part of its electrification strategy. Through this, Hyundai plans to release three pure electric vehicles equipped with an electric vehicle-exclusive platform from next year through 2024 and aims to sell 560,000 electric vehicles by 2025. The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle project is a public-private cooperation initiative aiming to establish an annual production system of 500,000 units and supply 850,000 units by 2030. In the UAM sector, Hyundai has formed a strategic partnership with Uber targeting commercialization by 2028 and is actively developing personal air vehicles (PAVs) with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.