Hyundai and Waymo have entered into a significant partnership aimed at integrating autonomous driving technology into Hyundai vehicles, a move that could reshape the future of transportation.
Pre-Installed Autonomy
This multi-year agreement will initially feature the sixth generation of Waymo's advanced driving system, known as Waymo Driver, which will be installed in the popular Hyundai Ioniq 5.
The vehicles are set to be produced at Hyundai’s new factory in Georgia, where a "significant volume" of Ioniq 5 models will be manufactured with "autonomous pre-installation."
This means the cars will include essential redundancies and automated operational capabilities, ensuring they are equipped for self-driving technology from the start, according to El Economista.
Expected by 2025
Waymo, a Google subsidiary specializing in autonomous vehicles, plans to integrate the Ioniq 5 into its Waymo One fleet, which currently operates in select regions of the U.S., including San Francisco, Phoenix, and parts of Los Angeles.
The first Ioniq 5 vehicles are expected to roll off the assembly line by the end of 2025, followed by extensive field testing.
This collaboration is strategic for both companies. Hyundai aims to expand its footprint in the autonomous vehicle sector, while Waymo seeks to grow its fleet, traditionally supplied by Chrysler and Jaguar.
The sixth generation of Waymo Driver, unveiled in August 2024, features significant advancements in hardware and software, including 13 cameras, 4 LiDAR units, and 6 radar systems.
These enhancements allow the vehicle to detect its surroundings up to 1,640 feet (500 meters) away, effectively operating in various weather conditions and times of day.
