Motional has named Laura Major as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, the company said on Saturday, following her tenure as Chief Technology Officer and interim CEO. The announcement comes as the autonomous vehicle firm pushes forward with AI development and prepares to debut its fully driverless commercial service in 2026.
Major, who has been with Motional since its inception in 2020, led engineering efforts behind the company’s flagship Ioniq 5 robotaxi, one of the first driverless vehicles to meet U.S. federal safety standards. She stepped into the interim CEO role in September 2023 following a leadership transition.
“Leveraging our deep expertise in building fully driverless systems and our agility in realizing the latest AI breakthroughs, we are strongly positioned to unlock a future where safe autonomous vehicles are a practical part of daily life,” said Major in a statement.
Prior to joining Motional, Major held senior positions in autonomy and artificial intelligence at Draper Laboratory and Aria Insights, contributing to projects ranging from space exploration to national defense. She is also the co-author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting Robots, a book exploring human-robot collaboration.
A joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, Motional has emphasized the role of embodied AI in shaping the future of urban transportation. The company aims to deploy its driverless ride-hailing service next year as it seeks to expand the adoption of autonomous mobility solutions.
