Hyundai CEO Highlights Autonomous Driving and AI Robotics

Outlines plans to expand self-driving vehicle services across the U.S.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 8:41am by

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A blurred, abstract image of a futuristic autonomous vehicle in motion, conveying a sense of speed, innovation, and the transformative potential of self-driving technology.Hyundai's push into autonomous driving technology aims to revolutionize the future of transportation.San Francisco Today

Hyundai Motor CEO Jose Munoz emphasized the importance of autonomous driving and AI robotics in shaping the future of mobility, stating the company's need to quickly adapt its strategy to meet evolving consumer demands. Munoz shared details about Hyundai's plans to expand self-driving vehicle services, including Waymo in San Francisco and Motional robotaxis in Las Vegas, as well as future IONIQ 5 autonomous vehicle deployments across the U.S.

Why it matters

As one of the world's largest automakers, Hyundai's focus on autonomous driving and AI robotics signals a major industry shift towards advanced mobility solutions. This aligns with growing consumer interest in self-driving technologies and the potential for these innovations to transform transportation, logistics, and urban infrastructure.

The details

In a keynote address at the 2026 Future of Mobility conference, Hyundai Motor CEO Jose Munoz emphasized the company's strategic pivot towards autonomous driving and AI robotics. Munoz highlighted Hyundai's existing self-driving vehicle services, including Waymo's autonomous taxis in San Francisco and the IONIQ 5-based Motional robotaxis operating in Las Vegas. He also teased plans to deploy IONIQ 5 autonomous vehicles across the United States in the coming years.

  • Hyundai Motor CEO Jose Munoz spoke at the 2026 Future of Mobility conference.

The players

Jose Munoz

The CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, a major global automaker.

Waymo

An American autonomous driving company and a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Motional

A joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, focused on developing autonomous driving technologies.

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What they’re saying

“Even now, you can ride Waymo vehicles in San Francisco and IONIQ 5-based Motional robotaxis in Las Vegas, and in the future, you will be able to see IONIQ 5 autonomous vehicles throughout the U.S.”

— Jose Munoz, CEO, Hyundai Motor Company

The takeaway

Hyundai's strategic focus on autonomous driving and AI robotics underscores the industry's rapid transformation towards advanced mobility solutions, which are expected to reshape transportation, logistics, and urban infrastructure in the coming years.