Uber and Motional are bringing self-driving Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric vehicles to Las Vegas. These autonomous EVs will now appear as a ride option for passengers using Uber. If you request an UberX, Uber Electric, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric, you might get matched with a Motional robotaxi.
Don’t worry, you won’t be forced into a robotaxi. Uber will notify you and give you the choice to decline and pick a regular ride instead. But if you’re curious and want to try it out, you can increase your chances of getting a robotaxi by opting in through the “Ride Preferences” section in your Uber app settings.
Once you’re matched with an autonomous ride, you can unlock the car using your Uber app. Inside, audio cues will remind you to close the door and buckle up. If you need any help during your ride, you can easily reach human support through the Uber app. These companies first started testing this robotaxi service in Las Vegas in 2022, following a ten-year partnership they established. Motional’s Hyundai autonomous vehicles also helped Uber Eats with self-driving deliveries in the same year.
Initially, these autonomous rides will still have safety drivers in the car. These drivers will be there to keep an eye on the road and ensure everything runs smoothly. For now, you’ll find these robotaxis in specific locations along Las Vegas Boulevard. This includes rideshare zones at places like Resorts World Las Vegas and Encore at the Wynn Las Vegas, plus Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, and curbside in Downtown Las Vegas and the Town Square shopping district near the airport.
Both companies aim to have fully autonomous rides, without any human operators, available by the end of this year. They also plan to make these rides available across more parts of the city.
Looking beyond Las Vegas, Uber just announced another pilot program. They’re teaming up with UK self-driving car startup Wayve and Nissan to launch a robotaxi service in Tokyo in late 2026. Plus, Nuro, a company backed by Uber, will soon start testing its own autonomous vehicles in Tokyo as well. The future of rides looks increasingly self-driven!
