Waymo's robotaxis are going to get a lot more angular in the future. Today, the autonomous driving startup and Hyundai announced that they have formed a strategic partnership, and the first product will be the integration of Waymo's autonomous vehicle software and hardware with the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
"Hyundai and Waymo share a vision to improve the safety, efficiency, and convenience of how people move," said José Muñoz, president and global COO of Hyundai Motor Company.
"We are thrilled to partner with Hyundai as we further our mission to be the world’s most trusted driver," said Waymo's co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana. "Hyundai’s focus on sustainability and strong electric vehicle roadmap makes them a great partner for us as we bring our fully autonomous service to more riders in more places."
Now, this doesn't mean you'll be able to buy a driverless Ioniq 5 from your local Hyundai dealer; Waymo will operate these Ioniq 5s as part of its ride-hailing Waymo One fleet, which currently operates in parts of Austin, Texas; Los Angeles; Phoenix; and San Francisco. Currently, Waymo operates a fleet of Jaguar I-Pace EVs and has also used Chrysler Pacifica minivans.