Waymo has selected Hyundai from South Korea to supply vehicles for its expanding Waymo One self-driving taxi service. These vehicles will be converted into fully autonomous “robo-taxis,” marking the latest development in Waymo’s pursuit of self-driving technology.
Key Highlights:
- The Hyundai Ioniq 5 will be Waymo’s next-generation self-driving vehicle.
- These self-driving cars will start road testing in late 2025.
- The future of the previously planned Chinese-made Zeekr minivan in Waymo’s fleet is uncertain.
What is Waymo?
Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, was established in 2016 to advance self-driving technology. It took over Google’s earlier efforts, which began in 2009, to create autonomous vehicles accessible to the public. Waymo has since been working toward the widespread implementation of self-driving cars.
Waymo and Hyundai Partnership
On Friday, Waymo and Hyundai announced a multi-year collaboration where Hyundai’s all-electric Ioniq 5 will be fitted with Waymo’s sixth-generation self-driving technology. This partnership designates the Ioniq 5 as Waymo’s newest “robo-taxi” model.
The vehicles will be manufactured at Hyundai’s plant in Georgia before being equipped with Waymo’s advanced hardware and software. Initial road testing is set for late 2025, with public rides following in subsequent years. Although Waymo has not disclosed the exact number of vehicles to be deployed, they have confirmed that these autonomous taxis will be introduced “in significant volumes over several years.”
Shift Away from the Zeekr Minivan
Previously, Waymo had an agreement with Geely’s Zeekr to supply compact electric vehicles for its fleet. However, reports from South Korea’s Electronic Times in September revealed that Waymo was negotiating with Hyundai to switch to the Ioniq 5 model. This strategic move also helps Waymo bypass the 100% U.S. tariffs imposed on Chinese-made electric vehicles, including the Zeekr minivan, as of September 27.
Despite this shift, Waymo continues to validate its latest self-driving system, known as Waymo Driver, in the Zeekr minivans and plans to integrate them into its Waymo One service when they are ready. The company’s current fleet primarily consists of Jaguar I-Pace electric crossovers, and in the past, they have used Chrysler Pacifica minivans. Meanwhile, Zeekr has stated that its partnership with Waymo remains unchanged.
Hyundai’s Role in Autonomous Mobility
Hyundai is not only partnering with Waymo but also using the Ioniq 5 as the basis for its own autonomous vehicle service called Motional. This venture, developed in collaboration with auto supplier Aptiv, has already successfully tested robo-taxis in Las Vegas and aims to launch a public service in 2026.
Waymo One’s Current and Future Operations
Waymo’s self-driving taxi service, Waymo One, has been operational for several years in cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, providing over 100,000 rides each week. Looking ahead, Waymo plans to extend its service to Austin and Atlanta in early 2025 by integrating with Uber’s network in those cities.
