Waymo, the autonomous driving technology company owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet, is partnering with Hyundai on its newest autonomous car. The GM Cruise rival is integrating its autonomous driving tech into the Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric crossover to be added to the Waymo One fleet.
Previously, Waymo has collaborated with Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, and Volvo. The volume of autonomous Ioniq 5 models is unspecified, but Hyundai expects to build them “in significant volume over multiple years” out of the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America facility in Georgia. The Ioniq 5 units will be largely stock when delivered to Alphabet’s self-driving subsidiary by Hyundai, but they’ll have some specific autonomous-ready modifications like redundant hardware and power doors.
On-road testing will begin by late 2025, and the autonomous EVs will be ready to transport passengers via the Waymo One ride-hailing service the following year. It’s unclear which cities will have these self-driving vehicles available for rides, but the company currently operates in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin.
“We are thrilled to partner with Hyundai as we further our mission to be the world’s most trusted driver,” Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said of the partnership. “Hyundai’s focus on sustainability and strong electric vehicle roadmap makes them a great partner for us as we bring our fully autonomous service to more riders in more places.”
“Hyundai and Waymo share a vision to improve the safety, efficiency, and convenience of how people move,” Hyundai Motor Company President and Global Chief Operating Officer José Muñoz said. “Waymo’s transformational technology is improving road safety where they operate, and the Ioniq 5 is the ideal vehicle to scale this further. The team at our new manufacturing facility is ready to allocate a significant number of vehicles for the Waymo One fleet as it continues to expand. Importantly, this is the first step in the partnership between the two companies, and we are actively exploring additional opportunities for collaboration.”
The autonomous Hyundai Ioniq 5 models will have some advantages over the Cruise AV, like faster charge times, a longer maximum range, and more interior space.
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