Two years after a brutal restructuring disempowered Motional’s workforce and shut down operations, the Hyundai-backed AV company is back on the Strip, still having a security operator for now but promising to remove one by the end of 2026.
Uber and Motional have relaunched a commercial robotaxi service in Las Vegas, making all-electric Motional IONIQ 5 vehicles available to riders at key locations on and around the Strip starting March 13, 2026.
The service marks a significant milestone for Motional, which completely shut down its commercial operations two years ago, cut about 40% of its workforce and was left struggling to survive after co-founder Aptiv withdrew its funding.
The relaunch is not yet completely driverless. Initially, Motional’s IONIQ 5 robotaxis will carry a human driver who will monitor the road from the driver’s seat.
The company expects to phase out the security operator and introduce a fully driverless service by the end of 2026. This will achieve the goal it set for itself during the restructuring in 2024.
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This is how the service works
Drivers requesting an UberX, Uber Electric, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric can be matched with a Motional IONIQ 5 at no additional cost. If there is a match, a notification appears in the app, giving drivers the option to accept the autonomous vehicle or switch to a conventional journey.
Users who want to maximize their chances of getting an AV can log in via the “Riding Preferences” section in their Uber app’s settings.
Once a robotaxi arrives, the vehicle can be unlocked and the ride started entirely via the Uber app.
Inside, audible warnings prompt drivers to close the doors and fasten their seatbelts. If assistance is needed at any time, a human assistance team is available via the Uber app.
At launch, the service will cover designated rideshare zones along Las Vegas Boulevard at Resorts World Las Vegas and Encore at the Wynn, as well as the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, curbside locations in downtown Las Vegas and the Town Square shopping district near the airport.
Both companies said they plan to expand their operating area, but did not provide further details.
The vehicle: SAE Level 4, FMVSS certified
The Robotaxi IONIQ 5 was jointly developed by Motional and the Hyundai Motor Group and is specifically designed for ride-hail applications. Uber says it is one of the first SAE Level 4-capable autonomous vehicles to be certified under the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), the federal regulatory framework for motor vehicle equipment.
SAE Level 4 means the vehicle can handle all driving functions within a defined operational design area without human intervention, although it does not require the ability to operate everywhere under all conditions.
“This milestone reflects our shared commitment to introducing autonomous vehicles in a way that prioritizes safety, increases reliability and expands access to more driving options for our customers.” said Sarfraz Maredia, president of autonomous mobility and delivery at Uber
Motional’s way back: from near collapse to restart
The relaunch is the culmination of a turbulent two-year recovery. Motional was founded in 2020 as a $4 billion equal joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and automotive technology company Aptiv.
The company conducted pilot rides in Las Vegas through Uber and Lyft and deliveries in Los Angeles through Uber Eats, all with a human security guard, and collected more than 130,000 autonomous rides through these programs.
The company’s problems crystallized in early 2024 when Aptiv announced it would stop allocating capital to the company, citing the high cost of commercializing robotaxi technology and the uncertain path to profitability. Aptiv had forecast a non-cash equity loss of around $340 million for 2024 alone.
With Aptiv’s withdrawal threatening to destabilize the entire company, Hyundai stepped in with a nearly $1 billion commitment: $475 million invested directly in Motional and $448 million to buy out 11% of Aptiv’s common equity stake. As a result of the restructuring, Hyundai owns approximately 85% of Motional’s common stock and Aptiv owns 15%.
The financing came with painful conditions. Motional halted all commercial rides and deliveries, paused plans to launch its second-generation driverless service and laid off about 550 employees, about 40% of its total workforce, across teams in Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, California and Massachusetts. T
The company focused solely on improving the underlying autonomous technology, including a shift to a more neural network-based approach to autonomy, before attempting a new commercial implementation.
Motional returned to fundraising in August 2025 with a $550 million Series B round led by Aptiv and backed by Hyundai and Nuance Investments, increasing the company’s valuation to $6.5 billion. This capital, together with the technological restructuring, forms the basis for today’s relaunch.
A busy week for Uber’s autonomous ambitions
The launch in Las Vegas is not a standalone announcement. That same week, Uber confirmed a deal with Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle subsidiary, to deploy Zoox’s purpose-built robotaxis on the Uber platform, initially in Las Vegas starting in summer 2026, followed by Los Angeles in mid-2027.
Uber and Wayve also announced a collaboration with Nissan on a robotaxi pilot in Tokyo, scheduled for late 2026. This would be Uber’s first autonomous vehicle partnership in Japan.
Uber says it is currently working with more than 25 autonomous vehicle partners in mobility, delivery and freight. The company announced in early 2026 that it plans to invest more than $100 million in charging infrastructure for autonomous vehicles.
The autonomous solutions division, founded in February 2026 under Maredia’s leadership, is focused on helping AV technology companies commercialize their deployments faster by providing demand generation, driver experience, customer support and fleet management services.
For Motional, the Las Vegas service is both proof and pressure test. The company’s technology, which has been quietly rebuilt and retrained since 2024, is now poised for its first sustained commercial deployment in the real world with paying drivers.
