Driverless Cars: The Race of New Technology

The race toward developing fully autonomous vehicles is gaining momentum as technology companies continue to invest billions of dollars in research and development. One of the leading contenders in the autonomous vehicle industry is Uber, which recently announced a partnership with Motional to offer self-driving cars for ride-sharing in Las Vegas. While Uber's self-driving program was previously plagued with setbacks, the company aims to make a comeback with Motional's technology. Other players in the self-driving industry include Waymo, Tesla, and General Motors' Cruise, among others.

Motional’s self-driving cars feature two “vehicle operators” behind the wheel to monitor the technology and provide added support to riders. The plan is for Uber and Motional to launch a fully driverless service in late 2023. Users will be able to request a self-driving vehicle through the Uber app, and, if available, a modified Hyundai Ioniq 5 will be sent to pick up the customer. Motional has been offering robotaxi services in Las Vegas since 2018 through Uber’s rival Lyft. Robotaxis also were offered under the parent company Aptiv prior to 2020. )Uber and Motional announced their non-exclusive 10-year agreement in October 2020, two years after Uber sold off its own self-driving unit. Uber's self-driving program was plagued by litigation and a fatal crash. Through the partnership with Motional, Uber aims to shift its business model away from its reliance on independently contracted drivers, which has caused legal issues for the company.

The autonomous vehicle industry is rapidly advancing, and companies including Uber, Motional, Waymo, Tesla, and General Motors' Cruise are at the forefront of this technology. Uber's partnership with Motional to offer self-driving cars for ride-sharing is a significant step towards achieving fully autonomous vehicles. As the technology continues to improve, we can expect to see more self-driving cars on the road, offering safer and more efficient transportation for users.