Waymo’s next robotaxi will be the Hyundai IONIQ 5

Waymo today announced a “multi-year, strategic partnership” with Hyundai Motor Company, starting with the all-electric IONIQ 5 SUV.

To date, the Waymo One ride-hailing service has used the Chrysler Pacifica and Jaguar I-Pace with a custom robotaxi coming next. 

The IONIQ 5 is after that, with the two companies now working to integrate Waymo’s 6th-generation hardware and sensor suite. There will also be “specific autonomous-ready modifications like redundant hardware and power doors.” Waymo says the “800-volt architecture will minimize time out of service with some of the industry’s fastest charging speeds available.” Passengers can expect a “well-appointed and spacious interior will offer plenty of legroom, headroom, and rear cargo space.”

These vehicles will be built in Georgia (at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America) and then be integrated with the autonomous Waymo Driver technology. 

Waymo says this fleet will have a “significant volume over multiple years to support Waymo One’s growing scale.” Hyundai adds that it will “allocate a significant number of vehicles for the Waymo One fleet as it continues to expand.”

In terms of availability, “initial on-road testing” will get underway by late 2025.

Notably, this is the “first phase” of the Waymo and Hyundai partnership, with the two “exploring additional opportunities for collaboration.” There are no other details, but Waymo in the past has mentioned the idea of “personal car ownership.”