Uber and Motional Relaunch Robotaxi Service in Las Vegas

Uber and Motional, the Hyundai-backed autonomous vehicle company, relaunched a commercial robotaxi service in Las Vegas on March 13, 2026, deploying all-electric IONIQ 5 vehicles for riders across key areas on and around the Las Vegas Strip. The service, which initially includes a human safety operator in each vehicle, represents a major step forward for Motional following a two-year hiatus in operations.

The partnership revives efforts that began with pilot programs in 2022, when Motional tested ride-hailing and Uber Eats deliveries in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Riders using the Uber app can now be matched with a Motional IONIQ 5 when requesting UberX, Uber Electric, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric options, at no extra cost. A notification alerts users to the autonomous vehicle match, allowing them to accept or opt for a traditional ride. To increase matching chances, riders can enable autonomous vehicle preferences in the app's settings. Once the vehicle arrives, passengers unlock it and start the trip via the app, guided by interior audio cues to secure doors and seatbelts. Human support remains accessible through the app if needed.

At launch, the service operates in...