Hyundai Launches IONIQ 5 Robotaxi Blitz While Elon Is Busy Doing Other Stuff
Last Updated on: 24th March 2025, 11:45 pm
When the cat’s away, the mice will play, and Hyundai has just announced a big play on the emerging US robotaxi market. You know, that robotaxi market, the one Tesla supposedly had a lock on. Instead of attending to robo-business, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been spending his time throwing thousands of US citizens out of work and dismantling essential public services, leaving other automakers with dreams of electric fleets to step into the breach.
A New Robotaxi Plan For The US
Hyundai announced the robotaxi plan as part of a gigantic new $21 billion investment in the US, including EV charging infrastructure and investment in the EV battery supply chain, as well as a stepped-up auto manufacturing profile.
Buried midway down the press release is this little squib about 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….”
… followed by this item:
“Partnering with NVIDIA to accelerate the development of AI solutions for future mobility, including autonomous driving and robotics….”
… and, here’s the kicker:
Supplying robotaxis to Waymo as part of its strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor Company, and co-developing autonomous driving services with Aptiv.
Aptiv And The Big Robotaxi Plan
Hyundai also hints that the robotaxi plan does not end 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” is also part of the strategy.
There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s start with Aptiv. CleanTechnica caught up with Aptiv and 10 or so other emerging robotaxi services back in August of 2020, noting that Aptiv was formerly known as Delphi Automotive.
“And, no, Aptiv is no small fish,” observed 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 release from February 2020 underscores how advanced the company was five years ago. Just weeks before the COVID-19 lockdown, the company stated that it already provided 100,000 commercial robotaxi rides in Las Vegas, further 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 Gets Ready For Its Robotaxi Closeup
More recently, last year, CleanTechnica caught up with the robotaxi firm Motional, a joint venture between Hyundai and Aptiv aimed at deploying Hyundai’s popular IONIQ 5 EV. In 2021, the two firms announced that the IONIQ 5 would take the starring role. Though, in January of 2024, Aptiv was reportedly prepping to drop out of the business. Then, however, in May, Hyundai stepped in with an investment of almost $1 billion to keep Motional up and running (here’s some more IONIQ 5 background).
As of this year, Motional was putting its Hyundai IONIQ 5 robotaxis through their paces in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as well as Las Vegas, in addition to undergoing highway speed tests at a Hyundai facility in California.
Meanwhile, Aptiv has been making some moves that indicate a continued interest in the robotaxi business. On January 22, the Switzerland-based firm announced its intention to separate its electrical distribution systems branch, enabling it to focus on “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 is. “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 vehicle, and industrial, and return of excess capital to shareholders,” Aptiv explains.
The Tourism Angle On Robotaxi Services
Tourists could play a significant role in robotaxi uptake, and that’s where things get interesting. Last October, Hyundai and Waymo announced a strategic partnership that will integrate Waymo’s gen-6 Waymo Driver into the IONIQ 5, with the aim of adding the EV to the Waymo One fleet.
Waymo has been a frequent visitor to the pages of CleanTechnica, most recently last week when the company provided an update 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 enthused, while noting that tourists have also become fans of the service.
The occasion of the update was a new study focusing on 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 company 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 company added.
California Travel Association President and CEO Barb Newton also chipped in 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 said.
“Its safe, seamless, high-quality ride-hailing experience for both visitors and residents makes California an even better travel destination,” she emphasized.
Would YOU Buy A Used Robotaxi From This Man?
Speaking of tourist destinations, the one man wrecking crew who occupies the Oval Office — I mean President Trump, not Elon Musk — has managed to convert the US from the Leader of the Free World™ to a pariah state in a matter of weeks, with a consequent impact on the US tourism industry.
While that part of the US economy is circling the drain, the other squatter in the Oval Office — Elon Musk — has also achieved something nobody thought possible. He poisoned the Tesla brand so efficiently that sales have fallen off a cliff in the US and Europe, among other key markets.
As recently as January 10, a marketing survey showed that about 50% of Americans would be willing to ride in a Tesla robotaxi, though the same survey showed 25% of Americans would not buy Tesla products because of Elon Musk.
Much has happened in the 2+ months since January 10, including more troubles for Elon Musk’s pet project, the much-hyped Cybertruck. The score on his other pet project, the unmaking of the US government as we know it, has been equally fraught if not more so.
Against this backdrop, how do you think Tesla’s big robotaxi rollout will fare if and when it hits Austin as planned in June? Would you take a ride? Do you think any tourists will take a ride, assuming there will be any tourism industry left to speak of in the US after two more months of Musk and Trump.
Drop a note in the comment thread and tell us what you think. Better yet, find your representatives in Congress and tell them what you think.
Photo (cropped): Hyundai is planning to bust the US robotaxi scene wide open, leaving Tesla behind in the dust (courtesy of Motional).
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