Avride, a Texas-based startup, has teamed up with Hyundai Motor Co to broaden its robotaxi fleet. The two companies have also solidified a deal to co-develop and operate self-driving vehicles, according to a Wednesday announcement.
Avride plans to increase its fleet to 100 Hyundai IONIQ 5 cars this year, with further expansion projected for 2026. This growth is part of Avride’s strategy to enter new regions and enhance its self-driving system. This positions Avride in a growing market alongside other self-driving technology firms expanding their robotaxi fleets and exploring new markets.
Elon Musk’s Tesla is preparing to launch its autonomous ride-hailing service in California and Texas this year. Meanwhile, Alphabet’s Waymo initiated its robotaxi services exclusively on Uber’s platform in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday.
Avride’s latest IONIQ 5 vehicles will be integrated into its robotaxi services, available exclusively on Uber in Dallas, Texas. These vehicles will be manufactured in the United States at Hyundai’s Metaplant facility in Georgia and subsequently equipped with Avride’s self-driving technology.
As part of this collaboration, the companies will work together to develop a larger robotaxi fleet and assess the potential for autonomous delivery services using Avride’s robots.
Avride previously operated as part of the self-driving division of the Russian company Yandex, from which it separated in the last year following corporate restructuring. In 2019, the Russian firm partnered with Hyundai’s automotive supply unit to develop software and hardware systems for self-driving cars.
Avride’s team has previously utilized Hyundai Motor vehicles, including Sonata and IONIQ 5 models, as platforms for its autonomous technology.
