Waymo’s next wave of robotaxis is officially hitting public roads, as the company has begun on-road testing of Hyundai IONIQ 5 vehicles outfitted with its sixth-generation autonomous driving system.
The move has been expected since the two companies announced their “strategic partnership” last year, but this is the first time the IONIQ 5 has begun operating in real-world conditions with Waymo’s full sensor suite installed. Testing is now underway in San Francisco, where the company continues to refine its next-gen hardware and validate how it integrates with Hyundai’s software-defined E-GMP platform.
The IONIQ 5 units being used for testing are equipped with Waymo’s latest autonomous hardware — a setup that includes 13 cameras, four lidar units, six radar sensors, and an array of microphones.
This sixth-generation system is more streamlined than earlier iterations, reducing the total number of sensors while increasing capability and lowering long-term operating costs, Waymo says.
The IONIQ 5 is replacing Waymo’s aging Jaguar I-Pace fleet, a transition that became inevitable as Jaguar discontinued production of the electric SUV. It will join a broader mix of vehicles that includes Waymo’s custom-developed Zeekr shuttle, part of the company’s plan to offer different vehicle formats suited to everything from daily commutes to family outings.
Once testing is complete, the IONIQ 5 will operate as a fully driverless robotaxi in select markets under Waymo One. The company is in the middle of a rapid geographic expansion, with plans to operate in at least a dozen U.S. cities by the end of 2026 — including new deployments in San Diego, Las Vegas, Detroit, and additional freeway-enabled service zones across California and Arizona.
@Waymo has officially begun on-road manual testing of the IONIQ 5 with their 6th-generation autonomous driving technology. This milestone marks a key step in our collaboration with Waymo — combining Hyundai’s EV innovation with cutting-edge autonomy to shape the future of… pic.twitter.com/KsCiM87Zqu
— Hyundai USA (@Hyundai) November 12, 2025
