Alphabet’s Waymo announced a partnership with South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Company to grow its existing robotaxi fleet.
A fleet of Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 SUVs will be equipped with Waymo’s 6th-generation autonomous driving technology, which has recently been upgraded with enhanced weather resilience.
The Waymo-Hyundai partnership
José Muñoz, president and global COO of Hyundai Motor Company, says the two companies are on a joint mission to “improve the safety, efficiency and convenience of how people move.”
Waymo currently has 700 vehicles in its fleet. If all goes according to plan, the Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 SUVs will begin on-road testing with Waymo Driver towards the end of 2025.
Waymo is currently the only firm in the United States collecting fares from driverless robotaxis. This partnership will strengthen the AV company’s position as a leader in the autonomous ride-hailing sector.
Safety and sustainability first
Apart from boosting its reputation, Waymo’s co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana says Hyundai is the perfect partner because of the motor manufacturer’s “focus on sustainability and strong electric vehicle roadmap.”
Muñoz praised Waymo’s “transformational technology” for its role in improving road safety. He adds that the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is the ideal vehicle to scale both companies.
Hyundai president of the group’s advanced vehicle platform (AVP) division, Chang Song, says they recently launched a foundry business “to provide companies with vehicles capable of implementing higher autonomous driving technology.”
He adds that “there is no better partner for our first agreement in this initiative than industry leader Waymo.”
AV vs human crash report
Waymo had been focused on road safety, even before the partnership with Hyundai. The company introduced a new data hub earlier this month. It offers detailed insights into the safety metrics of the Waymo Driver.
The most recent report covers more than 22 million rider-only miles, driven around San Francisco and Phoenix during June 2024.
The outcome?
- 73% fewer injury-causing crashes
- 48% fewer police-reported crashes
- 84% fewer crashes with airbag deployment
The 6th-gen driver even outperforms human drivers in terms of road safety.
Waymo explains: “The [data] shows how many fewer incidents (crashes) per million miles (IPMM) [we] had compared to human drivers.”
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About the author
Cheryl has contributed to various international publications, with a fervor for data and technology. She explores the intersection of emerging tech trends with logistics, focusing on how digital innovations are reshaping industries on a global scale. When she's not dissecting the latest developments in AI-driven innovation and digital solutions, Cheryl can be found gaming, kickboxing, or navigating the novel niches of consumer gadgetry.
