Yandex switches from self-driving Prius to autonomous Hyundai Sonata

The self-driving hybrid gets pushed aside.
By Sasha Lekach  on 
Yandex switches from self-driving Prius to autonomous Hyundai Sonata

Yandex, the Russian Alphabet-like company with a self-driving car unit that debuted a fully driverless car in Las Vegas this year, has updated its autonomous driving program.

The fourth iteration of the company's self-driving car was officially revealed on Tuesday as a modified Hyundai Sonata. Up until now, Yandex had used hybrid Toyota Priuses, with a fleet of 100 of the self-driving vehicles, including some offering taxi rides in a Russian city. In March five of the new Sonatas were sprinkled into the Moscow fleet.

By the end of this year, 100 of the Sonatas will join the collection of self-driving rides in Russia and Yandex's soon-to-arrive self-driving program in Michigan. It was supposed to start at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this month, but that was canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak. Yandex also operates in Tel Aviv.

During a virtual tour from Yandex's engineering center in Moscow, I was able to take a glimpse at the new vehicle that Yandex worked with Hyundai Mobis to develop. A prototype of the Hyundai autonomous vehicle was revealed last July. It's similar to the Prius vehicle, which spokesperson Yulia Shveyko explained was intentional to show that the autonomous system can be applied universally to any mass-produced vehicle.

Compared to the self-driving Prius, the Sonata's sensor suite is very similar, with cameras, radar, and LiDAR units in different positions with more equipment. Now there are nine cameras instead of six; six radar sensors with more on the top of the car to detect more vehicles in front and behind, especially in heavy traffic. Four light-emitting sensors, or LiDAR, from Velodyne are placed around the car. Yandex is working to eventually develop its own hardware.

Shveyko said the Prius was more than capable, but the new vehicle can see more detail and further out and around the vehicle. Throughout the rest of the year, more of the Priuses will be retrofitted to catch up to the new Sonata. `

Mashable Image
Sasha Lekach

Sasha is a news writer at Mashable's San Francisco office. She's an SF native who went to UC Davis and later received her master's from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. She's been reporting out of her hometown over the years at Bay City News (news wire), SFGate (the San Francisco Chronicle website), and even made it out of California to write for the Chicago Tribune. She's been described as a bookworm and a gym rat.


Recommended For You
'La Chimera' review: Josh O'Connor goes tomb raiding in this magical film
A group of men and women stand in a doorway, flanking a tall man in a white suit.

'Lisa Frankenstein' review: John Hughes and Tim Burton's twisted love child has risen
Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows and Cole Sprouse as The Creature in "Lisa Frankenstein."

'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' review: Do the puny humans spoil the fun again?
Godzilla and Kong roar together in "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire."

'Sing Sing' review: Colman Domingo delivers in prison-set friendship drama
Colman Domingo and Clarence Maclin deliver tremendous performances in "Sing Sing."

Sandworms and solar eclipses: 5 things we learned from 'The Art and Soul of 'Dune: Part Two''
Paul Atreides in a Fremen stillsuit.

More in Tech

Trans people are turning to VR as society fails them
pink person inside a cracking egg surrounded by screens




Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for March 29
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for March 29
a phone displaying Wordle

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for March 29
Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

'The Crow' soundtrack turns 30: Looking back on the album that defined an era
Composite of images of Brandon Lee, Rob Zombie, Trent Reznor, and Robert Smith of The Cure.

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for March 28
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!