Hyundai and Waymo Announce Strategic Partnership for Robotaxi Fleet #

Hyundai Motor and Waymo have entered into a multiyear strategic partnership, with plans to integrate Waymo’s self-driving technology into Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 electric vehicles for use in Waymo’s robotaxi fleet.

The collaboration will involve a significant number of Ioniq 5 EVs being equipped with Waymo’s sixth-generation autonomous technology, known as the Waymo Driver. This integration is set to take place over multiple years to support Waymo’s expanding robotaxi business.

The Ioniq 5 EVs destined for the Waymo fleet will be produced at Hyundai’s upcoming facility in Georgia. These vehicles will be delivered to Waymo with specific autonomous-ready modifications, including redundant hardware and power doors.

Initial on-road testing of the Waymo-enabled Ioniq 5s is scheduled to begin by late 2025. The companies anticipate that these vehicles will become available to Waymo One robotaxi riders in the following years.

While financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed, it was confirmed that Waymo will purchase and own the vehicles. This collaboration marks the first stage of a partnership that could potentially expand in the future.

Waymo currently operates the only commercial robotaxi service in the U.S., providing over 100,000 paid robotaxi rides per week. The company’s existing fleet consists of around 700 vehicles.

It’s worth noting that the Ioniq 5 is already being utilized by another autonomous vehicle startup, a joint venture between Hyundai and an auto supplier. Hyundai has stated that the new partnership with Waymo does not affect this existing arrangement.

This partnership represents a significant step for both companies in the advancement of autonomous vehicle technology and the expansion of robotaxi services.