|
Hyundai Motor Group said on the 15th that Motional recently launched an IONIQ 5–based robo-taxi pilot with Uber in Las Vegas. The initial operation covers key commercial corridors along Las Vegas Boulevard, including Strip hotels, downtown, and the Town Square shopping district. Motional plans to expand the service area over time.
The user experience mirrors existing ride-hailing workflows. When a rider requests a trip through the Uber app and the route falls inside the pilot zone, the app will automatically assign an IONIQ 5 robo-taxi.
Riders assigned a robo-taxi are charged the same fare as a conventional vehicle, with no surcharge. If riders prefer, they can request reassignment to a human-driven vehicle.
When the vehicle arrives, passengers unlock the doors and board using the Uber app. After boarding, a voice prompt provides a welcome message and a seatbelt reminder. Riders who need assistance during the trip can connect to an agent through the app.
Riders who prefer autonomous vehicles can opt into robo-taxi dispatch via the Uber app’s \"Ride Preferences\" settings.
This collaboration is not new. Motional and Uber signed a 10-year strategic partnership in 2022 to expand autonomous mobility services.
Earlier that year, the partners ran an Uber Eats delivery pilot in Los Angeles, and by year-end they conducted a ride-hailing autonomous service pilot in Las Vegas.
Motional developed the IONIQ 5–based robo-taxi in cooperation with Hyundai Motor Group. The vehicle meets U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and is an SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle optimized for ride-hailing operations.
During the pilot phase, safety drivers remain seated in the driver’s seat. Motional says it will use rider feedback and operational data to boost reliability and aims to launch fully driverless robo-taxi service by the end of the year.
David Carroll, Motional’s vice president of commercialization, said, \"Based on the autonomous-driving experience we’ve accumulated, we’re ready to work with Uber again. Our AI-driven autonomy can deliver safe, smooth rides across a variety of routes.\"
Sarfaraz Maredia, Uber’s head of autonomous mobility and delivery, said, \"We’re excited to launch autonomous taxi service in Las Vegas with Motional. Together, we’re working to bring new mobility experiences to more riders, grounded in safety and trust.\"
