Tech Desk
Sep 21, 2024
Hyundai Motor is set to team up with the Alphabet-owned Waymo to manufacture its self-driving vehicles, according to a report.
According to South Korea’s Electronic Times, both companies met three times at the ride-hailing service headquarter to discuss the contract for the potential manufacturing of robotaxis.
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Hyundai to partner with Waymo for robotaxis
Following this partnership, Waymo’s sixth-generation self-driving technology could be built upon the South Korean car manufacturers’ Ioniq 5 electric vehicles replacing China's Zeekr in the future, as per the report.
Notably, the report came after last week’s decision of US President Joe Biden's administration to increase tariffs on Chinese imports, which includes a 100% duty on electric vehicles, that is to be effective from September 27.
This partnership aims to start a new chapter in the growth of the automobile industry by using Hyundai’s production expertise and Waymo’s self-driving technology.
However, Reuters reported that all three companies, Hyundai, Waymo, and Zeekr have declined to confirm or deny these reports.
"There is no change in our partnership with Waymo and we are actively working together to manufacture the vehicles,” Zeekr added.
Previously, Motional delayed its plans to launch a robotaxi service with Hyundai Ioniq 5 robotaxis until 2026. The self-driving technology unit of Hyundai Motor Group revealed that the decision comes as a result of the laid off of its workers in the US.
Currently, Waymo operates over 50,000 paid trips per week with its robotaxi service in four US cities, including San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin.
