Motional robotaxis join the Uber app in Vegas two years after major reset

Uber has integrated Hyundai-owned Motional’s autonomous Ioniq 5 vehicles into its robotaxi network in Las Vegas, allowing rides to and from five key locations including Resorts World, Encore, Westgate, Town Square shopping center, and Downtown Las Vegas. Currently, a safety monitor is present in the cars, and while customers cannot specifically request a robotaxi, enabling autonomous vehicle pickup in the Uber app increases the chance of being matched with one. Uber and Motional aim to launch a fully driverless service in Las Vegas by the end of 2026, with plans to expand the service area in the future. Motional’s launch in Las Vegas marks a significant recovery after a major setback two years ago when Aptiv withdrew funding from the joint venture with Hyundai, prompting Hyundai to invest an additional $1 billion and restructure the company. This restructuring included workforce reductions and a strategic pivot toward AI-driven neural network technology to create a scalable, affordable autonomous driving solution. Motional has been testing its robotaxi