Korea’s Hyundai is back in pretty Las Vegas, but this time with no other than Uber. Not a fabric added, instead a comeback.
Well, not Hyundai in its full glory, but Motional, an AV company backed by the investments and dime of Hyundai. It still has a safety operator though, but like extra wheels on the sides of a bicycle, this is expected to be removed by the end of this year, 2026.
Instead of introducing next-gen attributes to the robotaxi race, Uber is launching an autonomous ride service on the Las Vegas Strip, together with Motional, which is supported by Hyundai.
Two years after a brutal restructuring gutted Motional’s workforce and halted its commercial operations, the Hyundai-backed AV company is back on the Strip, still with a safety operator for now, but promising to remove one by the end of 2026.
In summary, riders booking UberX, Uber Electric, or Uber Comfort trips in the city filled with magical, as well as inspiring neon lights may now get matched with an innovative Motional Ioniq 5 autonomous vehicle through the app with no additional cost.
A safety driver will initially remain behind the wheel to monitor roads, though this will also be attended to, eventually. Read more to see how it works.
How it works
Riders requesting UberX, Uber Electric, Uber Comfort, and Uber Comfort Electric will get matched with a Motional IONIQ 5 at zero additional cost. Once matched, there will be a notification to appear on the app, giving riders the preference to accept the autonomous vehicle or switch to a conventional ride.
Meanwhile, those who wish to maximize their chances of getting an AV can opt-in via the Ride Preferences section on the app Uber official.
The moment a robotaxi arrives, the vehicle can be unlocked, and the trip shall commence entirely through the Uber app.
Inside, audio cues shall prompt riders to close doors and fasten seatbelts. When support is required in any point, a human assistance team may be coordinated upon with the Uber app.
Further details
As this comeback launches, it will cover designated ridesharing zones along Las Vegas Boulevard at Resorts World Las Vegas and Encore at the Wynn, with Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, curbside locations in downtown Las Vegas, and Town Square shopping district near the airport. These are the most posh locations around.
This relaunch highlights Uber’s strategy of positioning itself as an aggregator of robotaxi networks rather than building the technology itself. Apart from its more than 20 partnerships with autonomous-driving developers across the United States, Uber has also originally signed a 10-year framework agreement with Motional a few years ago that led to programs like food delivery testing in Los Angeles and a ridesharing trial in Las Vegas. For more ridesharing news, don’t forget to share this story around.