Uber and Motional launch robotaxi service in Las Vegas

Uber and Motional have launched a commercial robotaxi service in Las Vegas, with riders able to be matched with an all-electric Motional Ioniq 5 autonomous vehicle through the Uber app at no additional cost. The service is initially available at designated locations along Las Vegas Boulevard, including rideshare zones at Resorts World Las Vegas, Encore at the Wynn Las Vegas, Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino, Downtown Las Vegas and the Town Square shopping district.

Riders requesting UberX, Uber Electric, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric may be matched with a Motional robotaxi and will receive a notification before each trip, with the option to switch to a non-autonomous vehicle. The Motional Ioniq 5 robotaxi is SAE Level 4-capable and certified under US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). At launch, a vehicle operator will be present behind the steering wheel, with a fully driverless service expected before the end of 2026.

The Las Vegas launch builds on a 10-year framework agreement between Uber and Motional established in 2022, which followed an Uber Eats delivery pilot in Los Angeles and an earlier ride-hailing pilot in Las Vegas, both in 2022.

Sarfraz Maredia, President of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery at Uber, said: “This milestone reflects our shared commitment to introduce autonomous vehicles in a way that prioritizes safety, increases reliability, and expands access to more ride options for our customers.”

David Carroll, Vice President of Commercialisation at Motional, added: “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.”

Source: Hyundai