Uber Technologies and Hyundai-backed Motional have launched a robotaxi service in Las Vegas, US, using autonomous Hyundai IONIQ 5 vehicles.
Riders using the Uber app can now be matched with an all-electric Motional IONIQ 5 autonomous vehicle.
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The robotaxi was developed through Motional’s collaboration with Hyundai and is designed specifically for ride-hailing services.
The vehicle is among the first SAE Level 4-capable autonomous vehicles certified under the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Uber autonomous mobility & delivery president Sarfraz Maredia said: “We’re excited to take the next step with Motional as we launch autonomous rides in Las Vegas.
“This milestone reflects our shared commitment to introduce autonomous vehicles in a way that prioritises safety, increases reliability, and expands access to more ride options for our customers.”
Uber has partnered with several companies working on autonomous driving technology, including Baidu, Amazon’s Zoox, Nissan and British startup Wayve.
Initially, the robotaxi service will operate at designated locations along Las Vegas Boulevard.
Riders requesting UberX, Uber Electric, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric may be matched with a Motional robotaxi at no additional cost.
When a match occurs, users receive a notification in the app and can either accept the autonomous vehicle or switch to a conventional ride.
Uber said users in Las Vegas can increase the likelihood of being matched with a robotaxi by opting in through the Ride Preferences section in the app’s Settings.
During the early phase of the service, each vehicle will include a human operator seated behind the steering wheel to monitor driving conditions.
Motional commercialisation vice president David Carroll said: “With our AI-first autonomous driving system, we’re able to seamlessly navigate hundreds of in-demand pick up and drop off locations where Uber riders want and expect to be able to go, whether that’s major hotel casinos on the Strip, shopping in Town Square or exploring downtown Las Vegas.”
Motional and Uber aim to introduce fully driverless operations, without a human operator in the vehicle, by the end of the year.
The companies signed a 10-year framework agreement in 2022 to expand the use of autonomous vehicles by integrating Motional’s driverless technology with Uber’s ride-hailing platform.
The agreement followed a delivery pilot with Uber Eats in Los Angeles in early 2022 and a ride-hailing trial in Las Vegas later the same year.
