Alphabet’s Waymo is reportedly engaged in talks with South Korea’s Hyundai Motor to potentially outsource the manufacturing of its self-driving vehicles, according to a report by the South Korean newspaper Electronic Times. The discussions, which have involved multiple meetings, focus on utilizing Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 electric vehicles for Waymo’s sixth-generation self-driving technology. The plan may involve replacing existing offerings from China’s Zeekr with the Ioniq 5 models.
This news comes on the heels of the Biden administration’s recent decision to impose significant tariffs on Chinese imports, including a 100% duty on electric vehicles, effective September 27. In response to inquiries about the negotiations, Waymo declined to comment on the speculation but affirmed its commitment to validating the sixth-generation Waymo Driver on the Zeekr platform for future fleet integration.
Zeekr, a subsidiary of China’s Geely Automobile Holdings, confirmed that its partnership with Waymo remains unchanged, stating they are actively collaborating on vehicle deployments. Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group noted that no decisions have been finalized regarding new business ventures related to its vehicle platform for self-driving technology companies.
Earlier this year, Motional, a self-driving unit of Hyundai Motor Group, postponed its plans to launch a robotaxi service using the next-generation Hyundai Ioniq 5 robotaxis until 2026, following significant layoffs in the U.S.
Waymo has previously purchased vehicles from Stellantis and Jaguar Land Rover, integrating its autonomous technology into these vehicles for ride-hailing services in major markets such as Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The company is also actively testing its next-generation self-driving technology with vehicles from Zeekr.
In July, Alphabet announced a substantial $5 billion investment in Waymo over several years, aimed at expanding its autonomous ride-hailing services and increasing its presence in this rapidly evolving market.
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