Hyundai Motor Spain has manufactured an adapted vehicle for people suffering from multiple sclerosis. Nowadays the automotive industry is improving their cars to make the driving experience as comfortable as possible for us, but Hyundai is doing it for a social cause behind the Hyundai STARIA HEV adapted. It all started with the story of Silvia and her will of doing the Way of St. James to give visibility to her multiple sclerosis disease.
This is a beautiful story of humanity and solidarity in which a big company like Hyundai is supporting an initiative to give visibility to a disease that is not that uncommon. So, let’s find out how this came about!
A journey with a purpose
This is the story of Silvia Roldán, a mother who suffers from multiple sclerosis, and Eric Doming, an athlete and her son. They are willing to start a new challenge in their lives: doing 5 stages of the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) throughout Portugal. This journey is very physically challenging, but also very symbolic because this mother and son want to do it for a great cause.
Multiple sclerosis
Silvia and Eric don’t want to complete this journey and that’s it… they want to make something great, give visibility to multiple sclerosis disease. This disease is suffered by more than 55,000 people in Spain and nearly 2.8 million in the whole world, but it’s still unknown for most people. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune, degenerative and unpredictable disease with a huge number of symptoms.
Hyundai is taking part in this journey
What does Hyundai have to do in this story? Well, Hyundai Motor Spain is supporting this initiative by offering Silvia and Eric a specially adapted vehicle to cover their needs, this vehicle is the Hyundai STARIA HEV Adapted.
This car is specifically designed for disabled or reduced mobility people. This is more than a car, it is a commitment with accessibility, sustainability and society.
Hyundai STARIA HEV Adapted features
Now that we know Hyundai is being part of this challenging journey, let’s see why their vehicle is so promising. Apart from its futuristic design and hybrid technology, its functional adjustments are the key aspect to this story:
- The car’s height is shorter than usual which makes it easier to enter with a wheelchair.
- Manually-operated ramp that supports up to 772 Ibs and it is foldable, so it won’t take up much space.
- A step is automatically out on one side of the vehicle when the door opens.
- You will find garb bars to hold onto when entering or leaving the car.
- LED light to better see the car.
- FUTURESAFE System which is a special chair back and headrest that better the passengers with reduced mobility.
How many people?
More passengers than usual can enter inside this special car, it has a capacity for 5 or 6 passengers plus a wheelchair. 8 people can even enter if swivel seats are installed on the third row of the car seats. This would be useful for adapted taxis or even health means of transport.
Hyundai is not new on Silvia and Eric’s life
Since 2022, the company has been supporting Silvia and Eric in several sports events as a strategy to search for an innovative technology that takes into account inclusion, equal opportunities and personal growth.
Hyundai is a great example of the use of technological advances being relevant for people with diseases that limit their daily life activities. Not only technology is great to make our lives more comfortable, but companies and institutions should invest more on these types of technology like Hyundai has. This is an amazing story, isn’t it?