Hyundai Motor Group has roped in J Scott Drennan from Bell Textron and named him Vice President of its Urban Air Mobility Division. Drennan will report to Jaiwon Shin, Executive Vice President (EVP) and Head of UAM Division. He will lead UAM research and development.

Hyundai Motor Group has been focusing on developing new mobility solutions for some time now. It is aiming to take a lead in the UAM industry and the automaker feels that Drennan's appointment would help it to achieve that goal.

Drennan started his career as an engineer in 1990 as a co-op student with GE Aircraft Engines. He was also appointed an Aeronautics Committee member on the NASA Advisory Council in June 2018. 

He comes with an experience of more than 25 years in engineering and innovation with a focus in vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. All these years he had been working with Bell Textron. He has made significant contributions to the V-22, the AW609 and the V-280, all vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. He served as Vice President of Innovation at Bell Textron, where he was responsible for developing advanced configurations, technologies and vertical lift missions to advance Bell Textron’s commercial and military business.

While commenting on the appointment Jaiwon Shin, Executive Vice President (EVP) and Head of UAM Division, Hyundai Motor Group revealed that he had the opportunity to collaborate with Scott closely in the past and found him not only superb in his technical knowledge and experience but also excellent in leading people.

"Leveraging his vast experience in the VTOL and UAM fields, Drennan will lead the engineering development to turn our vision of Urban Air Mobility into a reality, transforming our lifestyles for many decades to come,” shared Shin.

“I am honored to contribute to Hyundai’s vision of future mobility,” said Drennan. “Since my childhood, I have dreamed of teaming with fellow engineers and designers to develop technological marvels. EVP Shin and the Hyundai Motor Group have given me the opportunity and great responsibility to do just that. In our daily lives, we lose too much precious time in traffic congestion. I want to give that time back to people through safe, accessible and sustainable vertical mobility.”

Earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the Group’s flagship unit Hyundai Motor Company presented its vision to offer an integrated mobility solution, including UAM, Purpose Built Vehicles (PBV) and Hub, that will help vitalize cities and improve people’s lives. The automaker has an aim to provide innovative smart mobility solutions to address ever-increasing traffic congestion in megacities around the world that suffer economic and environmental tolls due to lost productivity and air pollution. However, the current COVID-19 crisis looming over businesses in many countries, the work at Hyundai Moto Group might also get a bit delayed. Drennan and his team can utlilize this time to focus more on research and strategizing.  

Image Credits:  Autocar Professional