Waymo will add Hyundai EVs to its robotaxi fleet under a new multi-year deal

Hyundai Motor And Waymo has agreed to a multi-year, strategic partnership that includes the self-driving company adding the South Korean automaker's Ioniq 5 electric vehicle to its robotaxi fleet.

The companies said Friday that Waymo's sixth-generation autonomous technology, known as Waymo Driver, will be integrated “significantly over several years” to support it. the alphabet-Supported company's growing robotaxi business.

It comes nearly two months after Waymo revealed details about its new “Generation 6” self-driving technology, which will be integrated into Geely Zeekr electric vehicles and will be able to handle a wide array of weather conditions without the need for expensive cameras and sensors. on board

Waymo, which today boasts nearly 700 vehicles in its fleet, operates the only commercial robotaxi service in the US, Waymo One. It provides more than 100,000 paid robotaxi rides per week in the US today.

The Ioniq 5 EVs will be produced at Hyundai's upcoming “Metaplant America” ​​in Georgia and then equipped with Waymo's self-driving technology. EVs will be delivered to Waymo with redundant hardware and certain autonomous-ready modifications like power doors.

Initial on-road testing with the Waymo-powered Ioniq 5s will begin in late 2025. They are expected to be available to Waymo One Robotaxi riders in the coming years, the companies said.

The companies declined to disclose financial terms of the partnership, but confirmed that Waymo will purchase and own the cars.

Waymo has previously partnered with other auto brands like Chrysler and Jaguar to integrate its technologies into vehicles.

The Waymo-Ioniq 5 integration is the first phase of a partnership that could grow in the future, according to Jose Munoz, Hyundai's chief operating officer and CEO of Hyundai Motor North America.

“The team at our new manufacturing facility is ready to allocate a significant number of vehicles to the Waymo One fleet as it continues to expand,” Muñoz said in a statement. “Importantly, this is the first step in the partnership between the two companies and we are actively exploring additional opportunities for collaboration.”

The Ioniq 5 is already being used by autonomous vehicle startup Motional, a joint venture between Hyundai and the auto supplier. apt. Hyundai said the Waymo partnership “does not affect” Motional.

– CNBC's Jennifer Elias contributed to this report.