Hyundai Launches IONIQ 5 Robotaxi Blitz At US

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Final Up to date on: twenty fourth March 2025, 11:45 pm

When the cat’s away, the mice will play, and Hyundai has simply introduced an enormous play on the rising US robotaxi market. You understand, that robotaxi market, the one Tesla supposedly had a lock on. As an alternative of attending to robo-business, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been spending his time throwing hundreds of US residents out of labor and dismantling important public companies, leaving different automakers with desires of electrical fleets to step into the breach.

A New Robotaxi Plan For The US

Hyundai introduced the robotaxi plan as a part of a big new $21 billion funding within the US, together with EV charging infrastructure and funding within the EV battery provide chain, in addition to a stepped-up auto manufacturing profile.

Buried halfway down the press launch is that this little squib concerning the automaker’s plans for the US:

“Collaborating with Boston Dynamics to expand the U.S. ecosystem for robotics components and establish a mass-production system….”

… adopted by this merchandise:

“Partnering with NVIDIA to accelerate the development of AI solutions for future mobility, including autonomous driving and robotics….”

… and, right here’s the kicker:

Supplying robotaxis to Waymo as a part of its strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor Firm, and co-developing autonomous driving companies with Aptiv.

Aptiv And The Massive Robotaxi Plan

Hyundai additionally hints that the robotaxi plan doesn’t finish with NVIDIA, Waymo, and Aptiv. “Investing potential startups through venture capital and other funding mechanisms to support US startups specializing in mobility, robotics, and AI” can be a part of the technique.

There’s so much to unpack right here, so let’s begin with Aptiv. CleanTechnica caught up with Aptiv and 10 or so different rising robotaxi companies again in August of 2020, noting that Aptiv was previously generally known as Delphi Automotive.

“And, no, Aptiv is no small fish,” noticed CleanTechnica editor Zachary Shahan. “Aptiv is present in 44 countries and employs ‘more than 160,000 people across 126 manufacturing facilities and 12 major technical centers worldwide.’”

An Aptiv press launch from February 2020 underscores how superior the corporate was 5 years in the past. Simply weeks earlier than the COVID-19 lockdown, the corporate acknowledged that it already supplied 100,000 business robotaxi rides in Las Vegas, additional noting that “98% of these paying passengers have rated their Aptiv self-driving rides 5-out-of-5 stars, with most stating this first-of-a-kind experience is something they are eager to try again.”

Aptiv Will get Prepared For Its Robotaxi Closeup

Extra just lately, final yr, CleanTechnica caught up with the robotaxi agency Motionala three way partnership between Hyundai and Aptiv geared toward deploying Hyundai’s widespread IONIQ 5 EV. In 2021, the 2 corporations introduced that the IONIQ 5 would take the starring role. Although, in January of 2024, Aptiv was reportedly prepping to drop out of the enterprise. Then, nonetheless, in Could, Hyundai stepped in with an investment of almost $1 billion to maintain Motional up and working (right here’s some more IONIQ 5 background).

As of this yr, Motional was placing its Hyundai IONIQ 5 robotaxis by means of their paces in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in addition to Las Vegas, along with present process highway speed tests at a Hyundai facility in California.

In the meantime, Aptiv has been making some strikes that point out a continued curiosity within the robotaxi enterprise. On January 22, the Switzerland-based agency introduced its intention to separate its electrical distribution methods department, enabling it to give attention to “a portfolio of advanced software and hardware technologies and highly engineered, mission-critical products that are aligned with global mega trends fueling growth in diverse end markets.”

If that sounds robotaxi-ish, it’s. “The result will be a high growth, high margin business with strong cash flow generation to support continued organic and inorganic investment in differentiated products and solutions and further penetration of adjacent markets, including aerospace and defense, telecommunications, commercial vehicleand industrial, and return of excess capital to shareholders,” Aptiv explains.

The Tourism Angle On Robotaxi Providers

Vacationers may play a big position in robotaxi uptake, and that’s the place issues get fascinating. Final October, Hyundai and Waymo introduced a strategic partnership that can combine Waymo’s gen-6 Waymo Driver into the IONIQ 5, with the goal of including the EV to the Waymo One fleet.

Waymo has been a frequent customer to the pages of CleanTechnicamost just lately final week when the corporate supplied an replace on its Waymo One fleet.

“Waymo One is providing hundreds of thousands of fully autonomous trips each week in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, where residents are integrating Waymo One into their daily lives,” Waymo enthusedwhereas noting that vacationers have additionally turn out to be followers of the service.

The event of the replace was a brand new research specializing in the tourism-boosting angle. “According to a recent survey of riders in San Francisco, over half feel Waymo One has made San Francisco a more exciting place,” the corporate reported.

“Waymo One also supports large events that are important drivers of revenue for San Francisco, including Bay to Breakers, the Oracle San Francisco Sail Grand Prix, and this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend,” the corporate added.

California Journey Affiliation President and CEO Barb Newton additionally chipped in together with her two cents. “Waymo enhances San Francisco’s and Los Angeles’ reputations as exciting, innovative destinations with its cutting-edge, fully autonomous vehicles visible on each city’s streets,” Newton mentioned.

“Its safe, seamless, high-quality ride-hailing experience for both visitors and residents makes California an even better travel destination,” she emphasised.

Would YOU Purchase A Used Robotaxi From This Man?

Talking of vacationer locations, the one man wrecking crew who occupies the Oval Workplace — I imply President Trump, not Elon Musk — has managed to transform the US from the Chief of the Free World™ to a pariah state in a matter of weeks, with a consequent affect on the US tourism industry.

Whereas that a part of the US economic system is circling the drain, the opposite squatter within the Oval Workplace — Elon Musk — has additionally achieved one thing no one thought doable. He poisoned the Tesla brand so effectively that sales have fallen off a cliff within the US and Europe, amongst different key markets.

As just lately as January 10, a advertising survey confirmed that about 50% of People can be keen to journey in a Tesla robotaxi, although the identical survey confirmed 25% of People would not buy Tesla products because of Elon Musk.

A lot has occurred within the 2+ months since January 10, together with extra troubles for Elon Musk’s pet undertaking, the much-hyped Cybertruck. The rating on his different pet undertaking, the unmaking of the US authorities as we all know it, has been equally fraught if no more so.

In opposition to this backdrop, how do you suppose Tesla’s massive robotaxi rollout will fare if and when it hits Austin as deliberate in June? Would you are taking a journey? Do you suppose any vacationers will take a journey, assuming there will likely be any tourism business left to talk of within the US after two extra months of Musk and Trump.

Drop a observe within the remark thread and inform us what you suppose. Higher but, find your representatives in Congress and inform them what you suppose.

Photograph (cropped): Hyundai is planning to bust the US robotaxi scene large open, leaving Tesla behind within the mud (courtesy of Motional).