Rendering of Ioniq 5 adapted to be a Waymo Waymo and Hyundai have announced a new partnership , where Hyundai will supply a new robotaxi platform for Waymo based on the Ioniq 5 electric crossover SUV. Hyundai will provide special Ioniqs, built in the USA, for further modification by Waymo to turn them into vehicles in the robotaxi fleet. Testing will begin in late 2025, but Waymo anticipates purchasing vehicles in “significant volume.
” This is good news for both companies. Hyundai recently announced its intention to create a unit to build autonomous vehicle platforms. They now have the world leader as a customer.
The vehicle will come with the redundant systems that a vehicle with no driver needs, to reduce the risk of any problems from mechanical failure. Questions arise, however, about the fate of Waymo’s first planned generation 6 platform provider, built by Chinese OEM Geely/Zeekr. They also arise about the status of Motional, the robotaxi startup now largely owned by Hyundai, originally co-owned with Tier-One automotive supplier Aptiv.
Motional recently saw the departure of its founder/CEO, and also makes its robotaxis with the Ioniq 5. This deal was leaked earlier, and I incorrectly speculated the Ioniq was an unexpected platform choice. It’s still surprising.
The Ioniq is a nice vehicle, but it’s still a compact crossover SUV. At present there are not plans to produce a version without a steering wheel and pedals, according to Waymo, but that obviously can ch.