Waymo joins forces with Hyundai amid global trade tensions

Waymo, the autonomous driving technology developer owned by Alphabet, has announced a significant partnership with Korean automaker Hyundai to integrate its self-driving technology into a fleet of electric vehicles, starting in late 2025.

The agreement will see Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 electric vehicles equipped with Waymo’s autonomous driving technology, manufactured at Hyundai’s new Georgia facility in the United States. The vehicles will join Waymo’s existing self-driving ride-hail service, which has already provided over 2 million paid trips to the public.

José Muñoz, president and global chief operating officer of Hyundai Motor Company, described the agreement as a “first step” in the partnership, noting that the companies are “actively exploring additional opportunities for collaboration.”

The partnership emerges against a backdrop of increasing global trade tensions, particularly regarding Chinese automotive technology. The US Commerce Department recently proposed rules to restrict Chinese- and Russian-made automotive software and hardware, focusing on autonomous vehicle technology. The European Union has also voted to increase tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.

Despite these tensions, Waymo maintains its existing partnership with Chinese-owned automaker Zeekr, which provides purpose-built autonomous minivans for the company. Waymo has emphasised that its Zeekr vehicles have “no driving automation or telematics capabilities built into them” prior to receiving US-based technology installation.

The company currently operates public ride-hailing services in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, with planned expansions to Austin and Atlanta next year. A Waymo spokesperson confirmed that the new Hyundai vehicles would not replace existing platforms but rather expand their fleet.

For Hyundai, the partnership comes at a crucial time as the company reassesses its autonomous driving strategy. The Korean automaker has previously invested heavily in Motional, a joint venture with Aptiv, which recently underwent restructuring and significant staff reductions.

The companies expect to begin on-road testing of the Waymo-enabled Ioniq 5s by late 2025, marking a significant step forward in the commercialisation of autonomous vehicle technology.