Hyundai, Waymo forge multi-year partnership to create self-driving Ioniq 5 fleet

MANILA: Hyundai Motor Corporation has signed a multi-year partnership with the Google-backed autonomous driving company Waymo LLC. Through the said partnership, the California-based self-driving tech developer will provide the Korean car company’s Ioniq 5 electric vehicle (EV) with its Waymo Driver software. 

To note, Waymo Driver is a sixth-generation fully autonomous driving technology and is the latest to have come out from the Google subsidiary. 

Over time, the two companies will form a fleet of self-driving Ioniq 5 EV units. The aforementioned will be assembled at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia, USA. Later in 2025, the Waymo-enabled Ioniq 5 units will undergo testing and eventually will be rolled out through the Waymo One ride-hailing app in the following years.

In order to make the all-electric crossover ready for autonomous driving, Hyundai will be providing some choice modifications, including redundant hardware and automatic power doors. 

The all-electric unit is also touted to reduce operating downtimes thanks to its fast charging capabilities and its decent electric cruising range. 

For reference, the Philippine-spec Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range 2WD variant is capable of covering up to 451 kilometers on a single charge. It likewise boasts a roomy interior and a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assist systems. 

“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,” President and Global Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai Motor Company, and President and Chief Executive Officer of Hyundai Motor North America José Muñoz said. 

“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,” Muñoz added. 

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