Waymo, the Alphabet subsidiary, plans to expand its robotaxi fleet by using Hyundai electric cars. The modified Ioniq 5 models are expected to undergo initial road tests in about a year, while the exact timing of availability for passengers and production numbers remain unclear for now.

Currently, Waymo is the only company operating driverless robotaxis on a large scale. In the four U.S. cities of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin, the vehicles record more than 100,000 trips per week. Especially in San Francisco, the white Jaguar electric cars with their distinctive housings for cameras and sensors are shaping the cityscape.

Hyundai already introduced the Ioniq 5 model in 2021. The cars intended for Waymo are to be assembled in the U.S. state of Georgia. At the same time, Waymo is currently testing a specialized vehicle from the brand Zeekr, a company of the Chinese manufacturer Geely, as the next robotaxi. A Waymo spokesperson emphasized that the company remains committed to the plans for the launch of the Zeekr vehicles. The partnership with Hyundai aims to increase capacities for the further expansion of the fleet.

The Alphabet stock reacted positively to these developments and closed on Friday in NASDAQ trading with a price increase of 0.81 percent at 168.56 US dollars.