Hyundai and Waymo partner to integrate autonomous technology into electric vehicles.

SEOUL, South Korea / MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - Hyundai Motor Company and Waymo announced a multi-year strategic partnership on Friday to integrate Waymo's autonomous driving technology into Hyundai's electric vehicles, signaling a significant move in the autonomous vehicle market.

The initial phase of the collaboration will see Waymo's sixth-generation fully autonomous technology, the Waymo Driver, integrated into Hyundai's all-electric IONIQ 5 SUV for use in the Waymo One ride-hailing fleet.

Hyundai will produce the IONIQ 5 vehicles at its new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Georgia.

The companies plan to produce a significant volume of Waymo-equipped IONIQ 5s over multiple years to support Waymo One's growing scale.

On-road testing of the autonomous IONIQ 5s is expected to begin by late 2025, with availability to Waymo One riders in subsequent years.

José Muñoz, president and global COO of Hyundai Motor Company, said the partnership aims to improve road safety, efficiency, and convenience in transportation.

Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo, cited Hyundai's focus on sustainability and electric solid vehicle roadmap as key factors in the partnership.

The IONIQ 5 vehicles will be delivered to Waymo with specific autonomous-ready modifications, including redundant hardware and power doors.

The vehicle's 800-volt architecture supports long driving shifts and minimizes charging time, features crucial for ride-hailing operations.

Chang Song, President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group's Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division, revealed that this collaboration marks the first agreement in Hyundai's recently announced autonomous vehicle foundry business.

This initiative aims to provide global companies with vehicles capable of implementing SAE Level 4 or higher autonomous driving technology.

The partnership extends beyond the current project, with both companies actively exploring additional opportunities for collaboration, according to Muñoz.

Waymo, which began as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, has autonomously driven tens of millions of miles on public roads and tens of billions in simulation across 13+ U.S. states.