Motional, the autonomous driving joint venture of Hyundai Motor Group, said March 15 that it has launched a pilot robotaxi service with Uber in Las Vegas.
The service area includes Resorts World Las Vegas, hotels around the Las Vegas Strip, downtown and the Town Square shopping district. Motional said the coverage area will be expanded over time as it begins autonomous service within designated zones in the city’s complex road environment.
Riders can request a trip as usual through the Uber app. If the route falls within the pilot zone, an Ioniq 5 robotaxi will be automatically dispatched. Riders can also ask to be reassigned to a standard vehicle.
Fares are the same as regular Uber rides. When the robotaxi arrives, passengers unlock the doors through the app and get in. After boarding, audio messages provide a welcome and reminders such as fastening seat belts. Riders can connect to a support agent through the app if they need help during the trip.
Motional said its Ioniq 5 robotaxi is an SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle certified under U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, meaning it can handle all driving within set areas and conditions without driver intervention.
During the pilot phase, a vehicle operator will ride in the driver’s seat to help ensure safe operation. Motional said it plans to use user feedback to refine the service and begin fully driverless robotaxi operations by the end of this year.
“Through AI-based autonomous driving technology, Motional can safely and smoothly drive the wide range of routes requested by Uber users,” said David Carroll, Motional’s vice president of commercialization.
Hyundai said it plans to apply the Level 4 operating know-how and safety validation systems accumulated through the Las Vegas commercialization process to advance the group’s software-defined vehicle development.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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