Does anyone remember MoceanLab (pronounced as it sounds, Motion-Lab)? It’s an experiment of sorts started by Kia Motors, and largely the Hyundai Motor Group, in California, aimed at launching its own fleet of self-driving cars via a car sharing program that will basically give Hyundai its own autonomous ride-hailing network. We last heard about this MoceanLab was in November 2019. After the holidays, COVID-19 started to quickly spread, and the pandemic did a number on a lot of industries, including the automotive industry. Kia Motors was quick to bounce back and get started on the development of new vehicles for a post-pandemic world, including micro EVs and Purpose-Built Vehicles. Becoming part of the solution, Kia Motors has also joined many automakers and organizations in aiding its community in its COVID-19 relief efforts, and Kia Motors continues to push forward by providing eco-friendly transportation to frontline personnel through its mobility service venture – MoceanLab.
“We recognized the critical need for safe and hygienic transportation during the pandemic, and wanted to offer an innovative mobility solution, particularly for frontline workers…We are pleased that MoceanLab’s ‘LA Heroes Fleet’ is contributing to the city’s fight against COVID-19, and we will continue to work closely with the City of Los Angeles to find more opportunities to make a positive impact in the region.” – Kyounglim Yun, Executive Vice President and Head of Open Innovation Strategy Division of Hyundai Motor Group
