LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Uber announced Friday its second collaboration to launch robotaxi service around the Las Vegas valley.
In an announcement, Uber and Motional shared the launch of a commercial robotaxi service for Uber riders in Las Vegas. Motional, which is majority owned by Hyundai Motor Group, is providing the autonomous vehicles for the service.
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Riders who request an UberX, Uber Electric, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric may be matched with a Motional IONIQ 5 Robotaxi at no additional cost. If matched, riders will receive a notification and will have the option to accept or switch to a non-autonomous vehicle ride.
Once a Motional IONIQ 5 Robotaxi arrives, riders can unlock the vehicle and start the trip through the Uber app, according to the company. Inside the vehicle, audio cues will remind riders to close the doors and fasten their seat belts.
Uber customers in Las Vegas who want to ride in an autonomous vehicle can increase their chances of being matched by opting in through the Ride Preferences section of the Uber app under Settings.
If assistance is needed during a trip, riders will have access to human support available through the Uber app. Motional’s robotaxis meet all of Uber’s Autonomous Safety Guidelines.
At launch, the service is 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 & Casino, curbside in Downtown Las Vegas, and throughout the Town Square shopping district near the airport. Uber and Motional said they plan to expand the operating area in the future.
Initially, Motional robotaxis will feature a vehicle operator monitoring the road from behind the steering wheel. A fully driverless service — with no human operator in the vehicle — is expected to begin by the end of 2026.
Motional and Uber established a 10-year framework agreement in 2022. The partnership was preceded by a delivery pilot with Uber Eats in Los Angeles in early 2022, followed by a ride-hailing pilot in Las Vegas in late 2022.
Uber said it is currently working with more than 25 autonomous vehicle partners across its Mobility, Delivery, and Freight divisions, completing millions of autonomous trips on the platform each year. The company said it expects to facilitate AV trips in as many as 15 cities globally by the end of 2026. Uber currently offers autonomous vehicles on its platform in Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Dubai, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Riyadh.
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