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Waymo has officially announced a groundbreaking multi-year strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor Company, marking a significant step in the evolution of autonomous ride-hailing services. This partnership will kick off with the introduction of the all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 5 SUV as the next robotaxi for Waymo’s ride-hailing service, Waymo One.
Historically, Waymo One has utilized vehicles such as the Chrysler Pacifica and Jaguar I-Pace for its ride-hailing operations. However, the new collaboration with Hyundai promises to take this service to the next level. The IONIQ 5 will be outfitted with Waymo’s advanced 6th-generation hardware and sensor suite, enhancing the vehicle’s capabilities and performance as a robotaxi. In addition to this technology, the vehicles will feature specific modifications to make them autonomous-ready, including redundant hardware systems and power doors.
One of the standout features of the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is its 800-volt architecture, which is designed to minimize downtime by providing some of the fastest charging speeds in the industry. Passengers can look forward to a spacious and well-appointed interior, offering ample legroom, headroom, and cargo space, ensuring a comfortable ride experience.
These IONIQ 5 vehicles will be produced at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia before being integrated with Waymo’s autonomous driving technology. Waymo has stated that this partnership will yield a significant volume of vehicles over multiple years, aimed at supporting the expanding scale of the Waymo One service. Hyundai has echoed this sentiment, committing to allocate a substantial number of vehicles specifically for the Waymo fleet as it continues to grow.
As for the timeline, initial on-road testing of these robotaxis is expected to commence by late 2025. This initiative represents only the first phase of the partnership between Waymo and Hyundai, with both companies exploring additional opportunities for future collaboration. While no specific details have been disclosed regarding other potential ventures, Waymo has hinted at the concept of personal car ownership, which could emerge as a facet of their ongoing collaboration.
The Waymo and Hyundai partnership sets a promising precedent for the future of autonomous vehicles and ride-hailing services, combining innovative technology with user-friendly design in the Hyundai IONIQ 5.