Uber will offer self-driving taxi service in Las Vegas

Uber has started offering robot taxi services in the US city of Las Vegas. The company has entered into a ten-year partnership with Motional for this purpose. The autonomous vehicles have a safety driver, but this will disappear in 2023.

The vehicles will according to The Verge being able to drive completely autonomously thanks to Motional technology; which is a joint venture between Hyundai and Aptiv. The taxi service is currently free to use, but Uber says the service will have to be paid for in the future. It is not clear when exactly.

The collaboration between Uber and Motional lasts Reportedly ten years and is not exclusive. Motional also offers its services to Lyft, one of Uber’s main competitors. Uber also has plans to expand its taxi service to other cities in the United States, including Los Angeles. The necessary permits have already been applied for there for the same type of taxi service.

Uber was in the news in 2020 when it was announced that the company had sold its self-driving car development division. Lyft has also decided to sell off this division. The company sold its self-driving car division to Toyota in 2021.

Vehicle from self-driving taxi service Uber and Motional