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Motional Gets Self-Driving Cars Ready For Roads Hyundai and Aptiv announced that their new autonomous driving joint venture will be called Motional and aims to introduce driverless vehicles for ride-hailing fleets by 2022. Launched virtually on August 11 to its employees around the world, the self-driving pioneer is hoping to make driverless vehicles a safe, reliable, and accessible reality. Motional is developing and commercializing SAE Level 4 vehicles – autonomous vehicles that perform all driving tasks. Motional have begun testing fully driverless systems in 2020, and its driverless systems and supporting technology will be available for robotaxi providers and fleet operators in 2022. The name Motional is intended to connect two words: motion and emotional. Motion is meant to imply both movement and its experience moving the industry forward, while Emotional tries to evoke the company’s people-first approach - the focus on safety and reliability that ultimately delivers peace of mind. “Motional, in all of its previous forms, has been leading driverless technology for decades. Our DNA – a combination of Aptiv’s expertise in advanced technology and Hyundai’s leadership
in both vehicle manufacturing and R&D – is uniquely powerful, and positions us to fundamentally change how people move through their lives,” said Karl Iagnemma, President and CEO of Motional. “What we’re building is more relevant than ever. The pandemic has challenged the global community to re-think transportation, and governments and individuals want more and better options. We’re excited to bring driverless technology safely and comfortably into everyday life.” Interest in robotaxis had been pushed aside lately by the autonomous vehicle industry in favor of automated trucks and delivery vehicles, partly because the need for contactless delivery seems more immediate during the pandemic. While other companies are pivoting to self-driving trucks or delivery vans, Motional is sticking to its original ride-hailing mission. “Our strategy is to focus on the biggest opportunity out there, which is moving people,” Motional CEO Karl Iagnemma. One day, the company might expand its focus to automated trucking and goods delivery, he said, but not now. AUGUST 2020
Massachusetts Auto Dealer www.msada.org
The company says its research shows self-driving cars are even more relevant today. Hyundai and Aptiv surveyed 1,000 consumers during the pandemic to see how their attitudes toward self-driving technology had changed. Nearly one in five (19%) Americans are more interested in self-driving vehicles now than they were before the pandemic; 70% of Americans say that the risk of infection is a real concern impacting their transportation decisions. “Safety is not just about avoiding crashing,” says Iagnemma. The $4 billion, 50-50 joint venture was formed in March to commercialize self-driving vehicles. Hyundai invested $1.6 billion in cash and contributed $400 million in R&D resources, while Aptiv transferred its autonomous driving technology, intellectual property and about 700 engineers to the new company. GREENFIELD
Dillon Chevrolet Puts PPE Out Front
Tom and Jay Dillon have drawn attention to their Greenfield dealership, with over-sized masks for their vehicles.
