Waymo has entered into a significant multi-year partnership with Hyundai to bring fully autonomous driving technology to the South Korean automaker’s electric vehicles, starting with the IONIQ 5. In this collaboration, Waymo’s sixth-generation autonomous driving system, known as the “Waymo Driver,” will be integrated into Hyundai’s all-electric IONIQ 5 SUVs. These vehicles will eventually join Waymo’s growing robotaxi fleet, Waymo One.

The IONIQ 5 units destined for Waymo will be produced at Hyundai’s new Metaplant in Georgia, USA, which is expected to open later in 2024. The partnership plans to build these autonomous vehicles at scale, with the first road tests of the Waymo-equipped IONIQ 5s set to begin in late 2025. These vehicles will come with features tailored for autonomy, including hardware redundancy and power doors, allowing for long driving shifts and fast charging times thanks to their 800-volt architecture.

This partnership aligns with both companies’ visions of advancing safer, more efficient, and convenient autonomous transportation. Waymo’s expansion into Hyundai’s EVs is seen as a step toward broader commercialization of autonomous driving, especially with Hyundai’s ambitions to lead in sustainable mobility.