Hyundai names ex-Naver CTO as mobility biz head

By Kim Bo-eun

Song Chang-hyun / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group

Hyundai Motor Group appointed former Naver Chief Technology Officer Song Chang-hyun as the head of its new mobility division, Friday.

The appointment came with the group's setup of a division for its Transportation as a Service (TaaS) business. The new division was created to integrate the group's mobility services and introduce new customer data-based service models, the company said.

The automotive group said the information technology and software expert was scouted to enable Hyundai to think outside the box of the traditional car industry.

Song was previously a software developer at global tech giants such as Apple and Microsoft. At Naver, he led the setup of Naver Labs, the portal operator's R&D subsidiary. Hyundai Motor is seeking to make the transition to a smart mobility company.

During Song's term as chief of Naver Labs, the R&D unit hosted the nation's largest conference for developers, sought investments for promising tech startups both here and abroad, and acquired Xerox Research Center Europe, contributing to research in future technology.

Song also founded the mobility service startup, 42dot, in 2019, leading the development of an urban mobility platform as well as self-driving technology.

"Hyundai Motor Group is a company that is able to provide innovative transportation experiences from the viewpoint of customers, and offer mobility services that can enrich customers' lives," Song was quoted as saying in a press release.

He pledged to work with the government and other mobility firms for Korea's mobility industry to secure competitiveness and lay the ground for the industry's sustainable growth.

Hyundai Motor said that Song is "the best person for the position, with outstanding management capabilities and the ability to push forward with plans."

The automotive group, meanwhile, said that it will expand partnerships with mobility companies both here and abroad.