Hyundai Bets On Robotaxis To Offset Slowing EV Demand

Hyundai is turning to autonomous ride-hailing as a way to keep its electric vehicle momentum going while consumer EV sales cool off. The company’s CEO said it intends to manufacture tens of thousands of Ioniq 5 units configured as robotaxis, with Waymo as the intended recipient of those vehicles. Rather than relying solely on retail buyers, Hyundai appears to be positioning fleet-scale autonomous deployments as a complementary demand channel for its EV platform. The strategy leans on the Ioniq 5’s existing electric architecture, repurposed for driverless service rather than private ownership. It’s a notable pivot at a moment when several automakers have trimmed EV production targets amid softer-than-expected consumer uptake.