A multi-year strategic partnership has been forged between Hyundai Motor Company and Waymo, marking a collaboration in the automotive industry. The initial phase will see the integration of Waymo’s sixth-generation fully autonomous technology—the Waymo Driver—into Hyundai’s all-electric IONIQ 5 SUV, which will gradually be incorporated into the Waymo One fleet.
Hyundai’s new manufacturing facility, the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) located in Georgia, will assemble the IONIQ 5 vehicles designated for the Waymo fleet, ensuring they are equipped with Waymo’s autonomous technology.
Over the coming years, the company aims to produce a substantial number of IONIQ 5s outfitted with Waymo’s technology to accommodate the expanding scale of Waymo One. Testing on public roads with Waymo-enabled IONIQ 5s is scheduled to commence by late 2025, with availability for Waymo One riders anticipated in subsequent years.
Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, “We are thrilled to partner with Hyundai as we further our mission to be the world’s most trusted driver. 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.”
José Muñoz, president and global COO of Hyundai Motor Company, emphasized their shared vision for enhancing mobility. He remarked, “Hyundai and Waymo share a vision to improve the safety, efficiency, and convenience of how people move.
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 many 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.”
Chang Song, President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group’s Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division, mentioned the recent launch of Hyundai’s autonomous vehicle foundry business.
He noted, “We recently announced the launch of Hyundai Motor Company’s autonomous vehicle foundry business to provide global autonomous driving companies with vehicles capable of implementing SAE Level 4 or higher autonomous driving technology. There is no better partner for our first agreement in this initiative than industry leader Waymo.”
To ensure readiness for autonomous operations, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 will feature specific modifications such as redundant hardware and power doors. This award-winning all-electric vehicle allows for extended driving ranges on a single charge, and its 800-volt architecture offers some of the industry’s fastest charging speeds, minimizing downtime. With ample legroom, headroom, and rear cargo space, the IONIQ 5 promises a comfortable experience for its passengers.