[Edaily Marketin Reporter LEE GEON-EOM ] It has been confirmed that Motional, HyundaiMotor Group’s U.S.-based autonomous driving joint venture, has granted its employees an additional 55 billion won worth of restricted stock units (RSUs) this year. Analysts suggest that, ahead of the year-end commercial launch of Level 4 driverless robo-taxis, the company is adhering to a “golden handcuffs” strategy to prevent the loss of key talent as it transitions from an R&D-focused organization to a commercialization-oriented one that prioritizes return on investment (ROI).

According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and industry sources on the 28th, Motional issued additional securities worth approximately $39.5 million (about 57.8 billion KRW) this year to grant RSUs to its employees. This marks the second time Motional has issued securities on a large scale since transitioning to the HyundaiMotor Group structure; the amount represents a 14% increase compared to the 50.7 billion KRW issued in December 2024—the first issuance following a capital increase.

In addition, it has been reported that the company has recently begun recruiting executive-level personnel to oversee stock compensation programs, including RSUs. This move is seen as a sign of the company’s commitment to managing its stock compensation system—which has grown to a cumulative total of 350 billion KRW—more systematically and to enhance the overall compensation system in preparation for the transition to commercialization.

RSUs are a compensation system in which shares are granted upon the fulfillment of certain conditions, such as providing service for a specified period or achieving performance targets. They represent a specific type of company stock or a unit of interest and can be converted into regular shares or interest once the conditions are met. With a major project—the launch of fully autonomous robo-taxis—scheduled for this year, Motional has effectively implemented a large-scale compensation plan to enhance the quality of its service.

The cumulative value of RSUs granted by Motional to 454 employees from 2020 to the present totals $239.66 million (approximately 350.9 billion won). Since its founding, Motional has consistently implemented large-scale compensation programs to attract global talent and boost employee morale.

Motional has significantly increased the volume of securities it has issued. Specifically, the figures are as follows: △$9.11 million in 2020, △$7.19 million in 2021, △$59.95 million in 2022, △$89.29 million in 2023, △$34.62 million in 2024, and △$39.50 million in 2026.

Motional was established in 2020 as a joint venture between HyundaiMotor Group and global autonomous driving company Aptiv, with the following websites: HyundaiMotor(005380), KIA CORPORATION(000270), and HyundaiMobis(012330). Subsequently, in May 2024, HyundaiMotor Group exclusively participated in a capital increase conducted by Motional, acquiring a large portion of Aptiv’s shares and raising its ownership stake to 86%.

The market views this large-scale RSU grant as a positive factor for the commercialization of driverless robotaxis within the year. This is because retaining skilled core engineers and business development personnel is essential for refining autonomous driving technology and establishing it as a service capable of generating actual revenue. Analysts suggest that, much like early pioneers such as Google’s Waymo, the company is increasing compensation to prevent the loss of key personnel as it transforms its organizational structure into that of a service provider.

Recent trends in the autonomous driving industry have moved beyond mere technological implementation into a commercialization phase focused on demonstrating operational efficiency and customer experience. Motional is also in the process of transitioning from a purely R&D-focused organization to a service provider.

In fact, Motional has recently begun recruiting executive-level personnel to oversee its commercial services. The individual in this role is expected to play a pivotal part in bridging the R&D, operations, and business development teams to successfully establish the robo-taxi service in the market. This is why observers view the recent grant of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as a strategic move to prevent the potential departure of key personnel—which could occur just before commercialization—and to consolidate organizational strength.

Meanwhile, Motional is focusing on advancing an “end-to-end” architecture—where a single artificial intelligence (AI) system handles everything from perception to control, moving beyond existing rule-based systems—and refining its “Large Driving Model” (LDM). Analysts suggest that by establishing a stable development environment through a robust compensation system, the company can significantly accelerate the completion of an advanced driving model capable of making human-like decisions even in complex urban environments.