Motional & Lyft Deliver First Rides in Motional’s Electric IONIQ 5 Autonomous Vehicle

Hyundai-backed Motional and Lyft have announced the launch of Motional’s new all-electric IONIQ 5-based robotaxi, an autonomous vehicle (AV) designed for fully driverless ride-hail operation, on the Lyft network in Las Vegas. This marks the first time members of the public will experience Motional’s all-electric IONIQ 5 AV, which is the first all-electric AV to debut on the Lyft network.

The launch is the next milestone in the lead-up to Motional and Lyft’s fully driverless service, planning to begin in 2023 and scaling to multiple US cities. 

In 2018, the two companies pioneered a partnership between the AV and ridesharing industries with the launch of their public service in Las Vegas.

The service has introduced over 100,000 Lyft riders to autonomous technology. 

Karl Iagnemma, Motional’s President and CEO, says: “Motional and Lyft have a clear path to widespread commercialization of Level 4 autonomous vehicles. We’ve led the industry in commercial operations for years, and today’s launch signals we’re on track to deliver a fully driverless service next year. Riders in Las Vegas can now experience Motional’s IONIQ 5 AV that will make that service a reality. Through our strategic partnership with Hyundai, the IONIQ 5 AV is fully customized for driverless ride-hail operation, while maintaining the vehicle’s award-winning comfort and design.”

"Launching Motional’s all-electric IONIQ 5 on Lyft’s network in Las Vegas represents tremendous progress in our vision to make an electric,  autonomous, and shared future a reality for people everywhere," adds Logan Green, Lyft’s CEO and co-founder. "Building an experience that Lyft riders love is core to advancing this technology, and today's launch provides riders access to Motional’s autonomous technology in a way that will feel seamless, familiar, and personalized, all on a network they already trust. We are designing an autonomous experience where the only expectation for riders is to relax and enjoy the ride.”

Motional worked with its parent company Hyundai to adapt the IONIQ 5 for use as a driverless ride-hail vehicle