- 10-year framework agreement is expected to create one of the
largest deployments of autonomous vehicles (AVs) on a major
ride-hail network, with the potential to reach millions of Uber
riders
- Partnership is first in the industry to span AV ride-hail and
delivery
- Uber will share data-driven insights to maximize utilization of
Motional's AVs on its ride-hail and delivery networks
- Motional's new all-electric IONIQ 5 robotaxis will be available
on UberX and Uber Comfort Electric in select markets, contributing
to Uber's 2030 zero emissions goal
BOSTON, Oct. 6, 2022
/PRNewswire/ -- Motional, a global driverless technology leader,
and Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE: UBER) today announced a commercial
agreement to offer fully driverless rides using Motional's new
all-electric IONIQ 5-based robotaxis.
The 10-year, multimarket agreement creates the opportunity for
effective scaling and broad adoption of AVs by pairing Motional's
advanced driverless technology with Uber's network of millions of
customers. The companies will strategically deploy the service
in cities across the U.S., with the first trips expected to start
later this year. Motional and Uber have a shared vision for AVs to
offer an affordable, convenient, and safe transportation option for
everyday travel.
"This agreement will be instrumental to the wide scale adoption
of robotaxis," said Karl Iagnemma,
President and CEO of Motional. "Motional now has unparalleled
access to millions of riders and a roadmap to scale significantly
over the next ten years. We're proud to partner with Uber to bring
both driverless ride-hail and deliveries to life in cities
throughout the U.S."
As part of the commercial partnership, Uber will share targeted
insights to efficiently allocate and position Motional's vehicles.
AVs present a unique opportunity to leverage those insights to
optimize operations, including reducing vehicle downtime and
unnecessary miles traveled, which enables the companies to maximize
time spent in revenue-generating service. Smarter operation also
translates into a better experience for Uber customers, ultimately
leading to reduced wait times and lower fares.
"We're excited to leverage the power of Uber's platform to bring
Motional's advanced autonomous technology to a wide range of riders
at the push of a button," said Noah
Zych, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery at
Uber. "The scope of this partnership shows the important role that
shared autonomous vehicles will play in the future of
transportation, and in Uber's strategy to be the global platform to
help you go anywhere and get anything."
Motional to be the First AV
Company to Conduct Both Deliveries and Rides for Uber
Today's announcement represents an expansion of the Motional and
Uber partnership, following a successful collaboration on delivery.
Earlier this year, Motional began conducting autonomous food
deliveries for Uber Eats customers in California. The pilot has been well received
by customers and Motional and Uber have since expanded their
delivery operations to service more restaurants.
Motional is now positioned to become the first AV company to
offer both delivery and ride-hail services within a major network
like Uber. Along with the multimarket driverless ride-hail service,
the new agreement also enables further expansion of Motional's AVs
for delivery with Uber Eats. Together, Motional and Uber are
building a future where AVs are safely and thoughtfully integrated
into communities.
Motional's All-Electric AVs
Contribute to Uber's Sustainability Goals
Motional's IONIQ 5 robotaxis are fully electric, zero
tailpipe-emissions vehicles, combining the transformative power of
electrification and autonomy. The deployment of these vehicles on
the Uber network will positively contribute to Uber's commitment to
being a zero-emissions platform by 2030 in the U.S..
"Partnering with Motional to efficiently utilize their fleet of
all-electric IONIQ 5 robotaxis will bring us one step closer to
achieving our goal of becoming a zero-emissions platform," said
Zych.
The companies will share details on the cities and services in
the future. For more information on Motional, visit
Motional.com/news, and for more information on autonomous mobility
and delivery at Uber, visit Uber.com/autonomous.
About Motional
Motional is a driverless technology company making autonomous
vehicles (AVs) a safe, reliable, and accessible reality. The
company formed in 2020 as a joint venture between Hyundai Motor
Group, one of the world's largest vehicle manufacturers offering
smart mobility solutions, and Aptiv, a global technology company
that develops safer, greener, and more connected solutions enabling
a more sustainable future of mobility.
Motional is developing and commercializing SAE Level 4
autonomous vehicles for ride-hail and delivery applications.
The company has unparalleled experience in commercial robotaxi
operations, having conducted over 100,000 autonomous rides through
its public service in Las
Vegas.
Headquartered in Boston,
Motional has operations in the U.S and Asia. For more information, visit
www.Motional.com and follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn,
Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Uber
Uber's mission is to create opportunity through movement. We
started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to
a ride at the touch of a button? More than 25 billion trips later,
we're building products to get people closer to where they want to
be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities,
Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new
possibilities.
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SOURCE Motional