Hyundai Ioniq 5 Robotaxi Begins Public Uber Rides in Las Vegas

Hyundai’s Motional and Uber launch public rides with the Ioniq 5 robotaxi in Las Vegas. Learn where the autonomous taxis operate and how passengers can access them.

Hyundai’s autonomous robotaxi service has begun public rides in Las Vegas. The project is operated by Motional, Hyundai’s autonomous driving technology subsidiary, in partnership with Uber. Passengers using the ride-hailing platform can now be matched with an electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 robotaxi instead of a traditional driver-operated vehicle.

Trips are requested through the standard Uber app. Riders can opt in to autonomous vehicles through the Ride Preferences section of the settings menu. When requesting categories such as UberX, Uber Electric, or Uber Comfort, the system may offer a robotaxi if one is available nearby. The fare remains the same as a standard ride, and passengers can decline the autonomous vehicle and switch to a conventional car if they prefer.

At launch, the vehicles operate with a safety operator behind the wheel. Motional plans to gradually transition toward fully driverless operation. The company has previously indicated that it aims to commercialize fully autonomous Level 4 robotaxi rides in Las Vegas by the end of 2026.

The service currently runs within a defined operating area in Las Vegas. Robotaxis can be found along Las Vegas Boulevard and around major hotel and resort destinations, including Resorts World Las Vegas and Encore at Wynn Las Vegas. Coverage also includes Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, parts of Downtown Las Vegas, and the Town Square shopping district near the airport. Motional expects to expand the operating zone in the future, although a timeline has not yet been announced.

The autonomous vehicles are based on the electric Hyundai Ioniq 5, adapted specifically for driverless operation. Each robotaxi is equipped with more than thirty sensors, including lidar units, cameras, and radar systems. These components work together to provide a 360-degree view of the surrounding environment, allowing the vehicle to detect traffic, pedestrians, and obstacles on the road.

The robotaxi operates at SAE Level 4 autonomy, meaning the vehicle can handle the driving task without human input within a defined operational area and under specific conditions.

Las Vegas has become one of Motional’s primary testing grounds for autonomous mobility. Over several years of development and pilot programs, the company has already provided more than 100,000 public rides in the city without at-fault incidents attributed to the autonomous system.

The launch also comes as competition intensifies in the robotaxi sector. Amazon-owned Zoox has been testing its own autonomous vehicles in Las Vegas, while other technology and mobility companies are exploring similar deployments across major U.S. cities.

Motional’s partnership with Uber was announced in 2022 as part of a ten-year agreement aimed at bringing autonomous vehicles to the ride-hailing platform’s global customer base. The Las Vegas rollout marks another step toward wider deployment of driverless ride services, a transition that companies across the mobility industry expect to gradually reshape urban transportation.