Uber: Autonomous VTCs Starting as Early as the End of 2022
This page is translated from the original post "Uber : des VTC autonomes dès fin 2022" in French.
- 07/10/2022 9:00
Motional’s technology will equip Uber’s autonomous ride-hailing vehicles for the next 10 years, starting with Ioniq 5s from late 2022.
Uber and autonomous cars have a long history. Since the start of the ride-hailing company, the core of the service has always been the “driver.” For the former CEO, this was a source of problems: labor rights, assaults, wages, etc. Today, drivers are increasingly scarce for public transportation, and soon for ride-hailing services too? Uber doesn’t want to wait and is pushing autonomous technology forward.
The challenge is to prevent automakers from winning this battle, including Tesla with its no-steering-wheel robotaxis in 2024, Cruise (GM), or Geely linked to the giant Google via Waymo. After hiring the autonomous driving head at Waymo in the 2010s—and illicitly accessing their data—Uber is betting on Motional. This American company specializes in autonomous driving and has been working for years with Uber’s “human” driving data to refine its system.
No driver: more money, less waiting
Today, the two partners are moving to the next level with a contract running until 2032. “This agreement will be crucial for the democratization of robotaxis,” declares Karl Iagnemma, President and CEO of Motional. “Motional now has unprecedented access to millions of drivers, and this will grow over the next ten years.”
This is not just a technological partnership; it also means the vehicles will be on the roads soon. The first Motional Ioniq 5, 100% electric, will equip Uber’s fleet starting at the end of 2022 in the United States. For Uber, it’s an opportunity to “maximize ride time and revenue-generating service.” For customers, it promises “a better experience,” according to Uber, “leading to reduced wait times and lower costs.”
Passengers and Uber Eats too
Motional and Uber are further advancing autonomous services with passengers, as it has already started with food deliveries. The service began in Santa Monica, California, in May via Uber Eats, successfully, and has since expanded to other restaurants. Motional states it is “the first autonomous driving company to offer both passenger transport and delivery within a major service.”
The company also partners with Lyft, Uber’s rival. They will launch their first autonomous ride-hailing service in Las Vegas in 2023.
Read also: Autonomous truck: Swedish Einride authorized to operate
We also suggestthese articles:
Also read
