Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 self-driving electric vehicles from Uber and Motional will begin being an option for passengers in Las Vegas. Passengers requesting a ride on UberX, Uber Electric, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric may be matched to a Motional robotaxi. However, they will not be forced to ride and will be notified and given the option to decline and choose a regular ride. But if they want to give it a try, they can improve their chances of being matched for a robo-taxi ride by opting in through the Ride Preferences section under Settings.
Passengers riding in self-driving cars will be able to unlock the vehicle through the Uber app. Inside the vehicle, they will hear an audio prompt reminding them to close the door and fasten their seat belt. If they need help, they can also get human support through the Uber app. The two parties will begin piloting a robotaxi service in Las Vegas in 2022 after a 10-year partnership. That same year, Motional’s modern AV was also tested for autonomous delivery by Uber Eats.
The first autonomous vehicles under the partnership will still have safety drivers monitoring the roads. They are also currently only available at select locations along the Las Vegas Strip, “including the ride-sharing area at Resorts World Las Vegas and Encore at Wynn Las Vegas, as well as the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino and curbside in downtown Las Vegas and throughout the Town Square shopping area near the airport.” By the end of the year, the companies expect to begin offering fully autonomous services without an operator. They also plan to expand the availability of rides throughout the city.
Uber also just announced that it will pilot a robot taxi service in Tokyo in late 2026 in partnership with British self-driving car startups Wayve and Nissan. Additionally, Uber-backed Nuro will soon be testing its own self-driving cars in the Japanese metropolis.
