Just days before Tesla’s highly anticipated robotaxi reveal, Hyundai announced a significant partnership with Waymo, a leading autonomous vehicle technology company. This collaboration will integrate Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 electric SUV into Waymo’s expanding robotaxi fleet, the Waymo One service.
Waymo’s sixth-generation autonomous driving technology, known as the Waymo Driver, will be incorporated into the Ioniq 5. On-road testing of these autonomous Ioniq 5s is slated to begin in late 2025, with public availability through the Waymo One service expected the following year. This partnership builds upon Waymo’s existing robotaxi service, currently the only fully operational one in the United States. With a fleet of approximately 700 self-driving vehicles, Waymo One operates in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, with ongoing testing in Austin, Texas.
This partnership comes as the autonomous vehicle industry navigates complex technological challenges and stringent safety regulations. While competitors like General Motors’ Cruise have faced setbacks, such as the temporary halt of operations after an accident in San Francisco, Waymo’s established presence gives it a competitive edge. Its sixth-generation technology boasts improved performance in diverse weather conditions with a streamlined sensor and camera setup. Both companies highlighted the safety records of the Waymo Driver and the Ioniq 5 in their joint announcement.
Waymo’s technology utilizes a combination of pre-mapped roads, sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar, a laser-based radar system. This approach, while potentially costly, has proven effective in meeting regulatory safety standards.
This development puts increased pressure on Tesla to deliver on its robotaxi ambitions with the upcoming launch of its Cybercab. Tesla’s goal is to offer full self-driving capabilities directly to consumers. Currently, Tesla offers Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, an advanced driver-assistance system requiring continuous driver supervision. FSD relies on multiple onboard cameras and machine learning models to process visual data and inform driving decisions. However, the technology’s readiness for fully autonomous operation remains under scrutiny and has not gained universal acceptance from traffic safety experts.
This partnership between Hyundai and Waymo underscores the growing momentum in the autonomous vehicle sector and sets the stage for increased competition as companies strive to bring safe and reliable robotaxi services to the market.
