Hyundai Motor Group Recruits Ben Dyerchin as Chief Technology Officer for UAM Division

Contribution to the Development of 16 Aircraft Including Civil Manned Aircraft and Electric Aircraft

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] Hyundai Motor Group announced on the 24th that it will recruit Ben Dyerchin as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to strengthen its technological competitiveness in the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) sector.

CTO Ben Dyerchin holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and a master's degree in aerospace engineering from Stanford University, and has worked in the aerospace industry for about 20 years. He has also served as a board member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and as an industry advisor for Purdue University's Department of Aerospace Engineering.

CTO Ben Dyerchin has also held CEO and senior technical positions at Opener, an aerospace startup located in California, USA, and Scaled Composites, an aircraft and spacecraft development and manufacturing company. He played a role in developing 16 groundbreaking aircraft, including the first private manned spacecraft SpaceShipOne and the personal electric aircraft Black Fly.

CTO Ben Dyerchin said, "Hyundai Motor Group is a company with outstanding talent and technology that can transform human mobility experiences," adding, "I am honored to join Hyundai Motor Group."

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group unveiled the flying vehicle vision concept 'S-A1' for use in the UAM business to innovate future mobility at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the United States. Hyundai Motor Group plans to accelerate aircraft development and core technology development with the recruitment of CTO Ben Dyerchin and enter the UAM market by 2028.

Shin Jae-won, President of Hyundai Motor Group (Head of UAM Division), said, "We have high expectations for CTO Ben Dyerchin joining Hyundai Motor Group," and added, "His accumulated development experience will be a great help in achieving our goal of developing and commercializing the most innovative UAM."