Waymo Seeking to Purchase 50,000 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Robotaxis for $2.5 Billion

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Waymo is scaling up. How a lot, and the way rapidly? These are the questions. We might have a touch at a solution. Reportedly, the self-driving tech chief is seeking to buy 50,000 Hyundai IONIQ 5 electrical automobiles within the subsequent few years, at a price of about $2.5 billion.

The IONIQ 5 EVs reportedly would not come geared up with the assorted lidar, radar, and different sensors Waymo makes use of. The price of the automobiles would reportedly value over $50,000 every initially, earlier than the sensory suite is added. Although, I don’t see how that is sensible. No model of the IONIQ 5 prices near $50,000 even for regular retail customers. So, at a price of $50,000+, Hyundai have to be including one thing — rather a lot — to the automobiles. Maybe the unique reporting is fallacious and the automobiles would include the assorted sensors included.

So far as we all know, the the contract has not been confirmed. Nevertheless, if particulars have leaked out, one would assume {that a} ultimate resolution and an announcement are coming.

Waymo and Hyundai have been in dialogue about this deal since 2024. The California firm initially purchased Jaguar I-PACE electrical automobiles for its robotaxi operations, and extra not too long ago has made a take care of Zeekr to make use of its custom-designed Ojai automobiles. All of those fashions are electrical automobiles, in fact.

We’ve been ready for these Hyundai–Waymo robotaxis for a very long time. Are we lastly on the verge of getting them?