MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – Waymo is rapidly evolving its autonomous vehicle technology and expanding its ride-hailing service, Waymo One, with updated vehicles, new partnerships, and freeway testing. The company is focused on improving rider experience and scaling its operations for broader availability.
Waymo recently redesigned the interior of its vehicles to prioritize passenger comfort. The updated design features more head- and legroom, adjustable seats, and a removable steering wheel and pedals. While still undergoing testing, Waymo anticipates these improvements will be available to riders in the near future.
In October, Waymo announced a collaboration with Hyundai to integrate its sixth-generation Driver technology into the all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUV. According to a company blog post, these vehicles will be added to the Waymo One fleet over time. The companies intend to produce a notable number of Ioniq 5s equipped with Waymo’s technology over multiple years to support the growth of Waymo One. Testing of these integrated vehicles is scheduled to begin in late 2025, with public availability expected in subsequent years.
Currently, Waymo One rides are limited to surface streets. However, the company is actively testing fully autonomous operation on freeways in Phoenix, Arizona, as demonstrated in a video shared with CNET in May. Waymo has also begun offering fully autonomous freeway rides to its employees in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.
While Waymo initially explored autonomous trucking, the company announced in July 2023 a strategic shift to prioritize its ride-hailing service, Waymo One. The company stated that advancements in Waymo driver capabilities, particularly on freeways, will ultimately benefit its trucking development efforts.Waymo continues to refine its core autonomous driving technology with the goal of broader deployment in both passenger and commercial applications.
