Seoul: Hyundai Motor Group announced that its U.S.-based autonomous driving joint venture, Motional, has appointed robotics and artificial intelligence expert Laura Major as its president and CEO. Major, previously the company's chief technology officer, was confirmed by the board and had been serving as interim CEO since September.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Major's appointment aligns with Motional's accelerated AI development efforts ahead of the planned commercial launch of its autonomous driving services next year. During her tenure as CTO, Major spearheaded the development of the Ioniq 5 robotaxi, a pioneering driverless vehicle certified under U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Before joining Motional, Major held key positions at Draper Laboratory and Aria Insight, where she focused on AI and autonomy solutions for spaceflight and national security. Major expressed her enthusiasm for the future, stating that the partnership with Hyundai aims to integrate embodied AI into transportation, offering substantial societal benefits.

Motional's strategic move to appoint Major as CEO highlights its commitment to advancing autonomous vehicle technology and emphasizes the company's leadership in the field of AI-driven mobility solutions.