Hyundai Motor Donates Vehicles for Pregnant Women, Launches Project to Improve Mobility for Transportation-Vulnerable Groups

ST1-Based Vehicle for Pregnant Women Donated to Seosan, South Chungcheong Province

Features Include Stroller Storage and Dedicated Seat Belt for Pregnant Passengers

Boarding and Drop-off Locations Selectable via App; Fare Same as City Bus

Plans to Continuously Expand Eligible Groups and Regions in the Future

Hyundai Motor Company is launching a new social contribution project to enhance mobility convenience for transportation-vulnerable groups.

Hyundai Motor Company's ST1-based vehicle specialized for pregnant women, donated to Seosan City. Hyundai Motor Company

The company announced on July 28 that it officially kicked off the "Hyundai Universal Solution" project with a vehicle donation ceremony held the previous day at Seosan City Hall in South Chungcheong Province. The event was attended by Lee Wan-seop, Mayor of Seosan, Jeon Hyeon-cheol, Head of Business Development & Sustainable Management at Hyundai Motor Company, as well as other officials from both the city and the company.

The "Hyundai Universal Solution" aims to improve access to essential public services such as education, healthcare, and welfare by developing and supporting specialized vehicles that can be conveniently used by pregnant women, people with disabilities, the elderly, and residents of underserved areas.

Hyundai Motor Company selected Seosan as the first city for the "Hyundai Universal Solution" project, considering the region’s characteristics—such as a higher-than-average total fertility rate compared to both national and South Chungcheong averages—despite trends of population decline and a rising proportion of elderly residents.

The donated vehicle is an ST1-based electrified PBV (Purpose Built Vehicle) tailored for pregnant women, featuring a "universal design" (design for all) that ensures transportation-vulnerable groups can use it without barriers.

The ST1 offers a comfortable and safe boarding experience, equipped with features such as: ▲low noise and vibration based on an electric vehicle-exclusive platform ▲low-floor body and high cabin height ▲an automatic sliding step for easy boarding ▲an "AI assistant" that monitors the rear sides during boarding and alighting.

In particular, the vehicle incorporates specifications customized for pregnant women, based on in-depth interviews. These include: ▲removal of the front passenger seat for stroller storage ▲a dedicated seat belt designed to minimize abdominal pressure ▲a 360-degree rotatable seat for newborns, among other tailored features.

Hyundai Motor Company and Seosan City plan to recruit users among pregnant women who are at least 16 weeks into pregnancy up to six months postpartum. Starting in September, the vehicle will be deployed on a dedicated route connecting Seongyeon-myeon and downtown Seosan exclusively for pregnant women.

ST1-based maternity vehicle donated by Hyundai Motor Company to Seosan City. Hyundai Motor Company

The "Shucle" demand-responsive transit platform from Hyundai Motor Group will be implemented, enabling users to summon vehicles anywhere in the service area via a smartphone app for both boarding and alighting at their preferred locations. The vehicle will follow the optimal route determined by AI.

In addition, Hyundai Motor Company and Seosan City will assign seats for the convenience of users, such as providing seating next to the newborn seat for riders accompanied by infants, and fares will be set equal to those of city buses.

Furthermore, in cooperation with the civic organization Safety Living Practice Citizens' Coalition, instructional sessions on vehicle use and traffic safety education will be conducted; the company will also partner with venture company LBS Tech to develop a navigation map supplying information on obstacles, elevators, and ramps from the vehicle drop-off point to the user's final destination.

Hyundai Motor Company plans to expand the scope of the "Hyundai Universal Solution" project beyond pregnant women, gradually extending its benefits to people with disabilities, the elderly, and residents of underserved regions in additional locations.

A Hyundai Motor Company official stated, "Through the Hyundai Universal Solution, we will fulfill our social responsibility by alleviating everyday inconveniences and improving mobility rights for transportation-vulnerable individuals."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.