Uber, one of the leading mobility services companies currently operating in over 70 countries worldwide, has moved into the autonomous vehicle space. In conjunction with Motional, Uber has decided to launch a public taxi service in Las Vegas, USA, where its customers can now order a fully automated ride.
Early in October, Uber signed a multi-million dollar commercial agreement with Motional to offer driverless rides using Motional’s new all-electric robotaxi. The company says the decade-long multi-market agreement will create an opportunity for effective scaling, broad adoption, and acceptance of autonomous vehicles. The scope of this partnership shows the paramount role that autonomous vehicles will play in the future of the car service and transportation sectors as a whole.
Since 2015, Uber has been hinting that it will launch an autonomous vehicle service, and we can see it coming to pass now. Motional says that the launch will be the first by an autonomous vehicle company to offer ride-hailing and delivery service on a major network, combining Motional’s autonomous vehicle expertise with Uber’s global network.
The Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery at Uber, Noah Zych, says this about the collaboration: “Motional have proven themselves to be industry leaders, steadily and safely progressing autonomous technology into a driverless future.”
All users need to do is log on to their Uber App and opt-in for an autonomous ride, as the company will not send one to you if you did not order it. Note: For recent testing, users will be granted access to backup drivers until the system is stable and trusted.
The future of transportation is now, and Uber, in collaboration with Motional, has decided to be at the forefront of this change that is taking place. Although the service is only available for customers around Las Vegas, Nevada, its growth and spread will surely be on the rise.
As an Uber customer, will you be comfortable getting a fully automated ride to work or an appointment? Or do you prefer the traditional service that has been in existence for years? Let us know your decision and why you chose it in the comments.
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Photo by Uber
