Waymo and Hyundai partner to expand robotaxi fleet with Ioniq 5

Waymo has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor Group, aiming to integrate Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 into its growing robotaxi fleet. This move is a significant step for both companies, marking a new chapter in their collaboration on autonomous driving technology. The Ioniq 5, an electric crossover SUV, is slated for on-road testing with Waymo’s self-driving technology in late 2025. While the exact timeline for when passengers will be able to ride in the Ioniq 5 robotaxis remains unclear, Waymo indicates it will be "years" before the vehicles become available for public use.

The production of Waymo-equipped Ioniq 5 vehicles will take place at Hyundai’s $7.6 billion Metaplant factory in Georgia, which is nearing the end of its construction. This factory is set to manufacture the vehicles “in significant volume” over several years, further expanding Waymo’s fleet of autonomous vehicles.

Why the Ioniq 5

The Ioniq 5 is an ideal choice for Waymo’s robotaxi fleet due to its advanced electric vehicle (EV) features. Boasting over 300 miles of range and an 800-volt architecture, the vehicle offers enhanced charging speed—a critical factor for maximizing the uptime of robotaxis. Hyundai claims the Ioniq 5 can charge from 10–80 percent in just 18 minutes when plugged into a 350kW fast charger. This charging capability is likely to be a boon for Waymo, which is still working to make its robotaxi business profitable.

Since its debut in late 2021, the Ioniq 5 has earned widespread praise and multiple awards, with 30,000 units sold in the US this year alone. Its popularity has helped Hyundai, alongside its sister company Kia, surpass Ford and GM to become the second-largest seller of EVs in the US, trailing only Tesla.

Currently, Waymo operates a fleet of Jaguar I-Pace vehicles, which have served as its primary robotaxis since the retirement of its first vehicle, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, in 2013.

A while back Waymo also announced plans to add vehicles from Geely’s Zeekr to its fleet, but the government’s decision to quadruple tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China could complicate those efforts. Some reports have suggested that the Hyundai deal could be a replacement for the Zeekr plan, though Waymo has refuted these claims.

This isn’t the Ioniq 5’s first foray into self-driving technology. The vehicle already serves as a platform for Hyundai’s own robotaxi subsidiary, Motional, and for Avride, formerly Yandex’s self-driving division.