Motional, Lyft Offer First Rides in IONIQ 5 Autonomous Vehicle
August 16, 2022
Lyft and Motional have announced the launch of Motional’s all-electric IONIC 5-based robotaxi, an autonomous vehicle (AV) destined for fully driverless ride-hail operation, on the Lyft network in Las Vegas. The launch is the latest milestone in the lead-up to a fully driverless service, expected to begin in 2023 and scaling to multiple U.S. cities.
The two companies said the announcement marks the first times members of the public can experience the IONIC 5 AV, which is also the first all-electric AV to debut on Lyft’s network.
“Motional and Lyft have a clear path to widespread commercialization of Level 4 autonomous vehicles,” said Karl Iagnemma, president and CEO of Motional. “We’ve led the industry in commercial operations for years, and today’s launch signals we’re on track to deliver a fully driverless service next year. Riders in Las Vegas can now experience Motional’s IONIQ 5 AV that will make that service a reality. Through our strategic partnership with Hyundai, the IONIQ 5 AV is fully customized for driverless ride-hail operation, while maintaining the vehicle’s award-winning comfort and design.”
Motional and Lyft have been conducting autonomous rides in Las Vegas since 2018, and now Lyft rides can be among the first to experience the new AV, which includes a custom-designed user experience for a fully autonomous journey. Riders will be able to control their ride without assistance from a driver. This includes unlocking the doors through the Lyft app, and starting the ride or contacting customer support from an in-car Lyft AV app, an in-ride display tailored to autonomous ridesharing. Features are backed by extensive research and feedback from real riders to maximize comfort and ease of use. Motional and Lyft said the new user features are being made available to the public now in preparation for when the service plans to be fully driverless next year.
“Launching Motional’s all-electric IONIQ 5 on Lyft’s network in Las Vegas represents tremendous progress in our vision to make an electric, autonomous, and shared future a reality for people everywhere,” said Logan Green, Lyft’s CEO and co-founder. “Building an experience that Lyft riders love is core to advancing this technology, and today’s launch provides riders access to Motional’s autonomous technology in a way that will feel seamless, familiar, and personalized, all on a network they already trust. We are designing an autonomous experience where the only expectation for riders is to relax and enjoy the ride.”
Interested riders can download the Lyft app to request a ride, or visit this website for more information.
