- Waymo and Hyundai have held talks about creating the robotaxi firm’s next autonomous cab, Korean media reports.
- The pair are discussing turning Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 into a fully autonomous vehicle that could replace Waymo’s existing Chinese-built Zeekr models.
- Hyundai recently delayed ints own Ioniq 5 robotaxi plans until 2026, a decision that led to layoffs in the US.
Waymo is in talks with Hyundai about using the Korean automaker’s Ioniq 5 EV for its next-generation robotaxi, reports claim.
Reps from the the two companies have met more than three times to discuss Hyundai building custom Ioniq 5s that Waymo could use for its ride-hailing services around the US, according to Korean media (via Reuters).
Related: Waymo’s Robotaxis Locked In Midnight Honk Wars, Driving Residents Crazy
Waymo currently uses a fleet of Jaguar I-Pace EVs, having retired its Chrysler Pacificas last year, but has recently begun testing its sixth-generation autonomous system on a small number of Zeekr minivan cabs. Waymo says its latest hardware, which consists of 13 cameras, 4 lidar, 6 radar, and various external audio receivers, costs less than the previous system and can handle a bigger range of weather conditions.
The report claims that the new Hyundais would replace the Zeekrs, which have their Waymo Driver autonomous tech installed in the US, but are built in China and are so subject to steep tariffs now placed on all Chinese imports to the US.
The Alphabet-owned firm declined to comment on the speculation when contacted by Reuters, but did tell the news outlet that “we are hard at work validating the 6th-generation Waymo Driver on the Zeekr platform and intend to introduce it into our fleet when ready.”
And Geely-owned Zeekr told reporters that there was no change in its deal with Waymo and that the two firms are “actively working together to deploy the vehicles.”
In May, Hyundai delayed its own plans to launch a robotaxi based on the Ioniq 5 by two years, pushing the introduction back to 2026, Tech Crunch reported. Motional, a startup created by Hyundai and Aptiv, is undergoing a restructuring process and paused its commercial operations that include Ioniq 5 taxis run in Las Vegas by Lyft and Uber, and delivery services in Santa Monica via Uber Eats. While those cars are autonomous, they still each have human driver at the wheel.
Note: Images of the autonomous Ioniq 5 seen here are from Motional, not Waymo
