Hyundai Motor Company and Waymo have entered a multi-year strategic partnership to develop a fleet of autonomous vehicles based on Hyundai’s all-electric IONIQ 5 SUV. The collaboration will integrate Waymo’s sixth-generation autonomous driving technology, known as the Waymo Driver, into Hyundai’s electric crossover. These vehicles will eventually join Waymo’s growing autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo One, which operates in U.S. cities like San Francisco and Phoenix.
The IONIQ 5 models for the Waymo One fleet will be assembled at Hyundai’s new manufacturing facility in Georgia, the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA), before being outfitted with Waymo’s technology. The partnership will begin with initial road testing in late 2025, with a larger rollout expected in the following years as Hyundai increases production to meet the needs of the autonomous fleet.
Both companies have expressed excitement over the collaboration. Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo, highlighted Hyundai’s focus on sustainability and their electric vehicle (EV) roadmap as essential factors in the partnership, while José Muñoz, president and COO of Hyundai Motor, underscored their shared commitment to improving road safety and transportation efficiency.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 will undergo specific modifications to support autonomous driving, including redundant hardware and power doors. Its long-range battery, quick charging capability, and spacious interior make it ideal for ride-hailing services. Hyundai has also emphasized that this partnership is just the beginning, with additional opportunities for collaboration between the two companies already being explored.
This agreement is a milestone for Hyundai’s new autonomous vehicle foundry business, which aims to supply global autonomous driving companies with vehicles capable of supporting Level 4 or higher autonomy. The IONIQ 5 marks the first product from this venture, which Hyundai hopes will position it as a key player in the global autonomous driving market.
Hyundai’s partnership with Waymo also signals potential market shifts, as speculation grows that Waymo may reduce its reliance on Chinese automaker Zeekr due to geopolitical tensions over connected vehicle data. If this happens, Hyundai’s production volume for Waymo is expected to rise significantly.
The partnership further builds on Hyundai’s existing autonomous driving ventures. Through Motional, its joint venture with Aptiv, Hyundai has already deployed IONIQ 5-based robotaxis in pilot programs in Las Vegas. These autonomous taxis, equipped with advanced sensors like LiDAR and radar, have demonstrated consistent performance, and Hyundai is working to expand its technology to more regions and services in the future.
