Motional has signed a new 10-year framework agreement with Uber and its vast ride-hailing network. The two companies have effectively created the largest deployment of autonomous vehicles that would offer AV ride-hailing and delivery services, according to a recent press release. This newest partnership has the potential to make Motional the first-ever AV robotaxi company to provide ride-hailing and driverless delivery services via Uber Eats.
“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.”
Autonomous Deliveries Coming Near You
Motional has been busy leveraging partnerships with ride-hailing services to fast-track the deployment of AV robotaxis across the United States. The company partnered with Lyft after earning its “driverless license” from Nevada in 2020. Not long after, Motional unveiled its newest Ioniq 5 robotaxi. According to Motional, it will strategically deploy Hyundai Ioniq 5 AVs on Uber X and Uber Comfort Electric in cities across the U.S., with the first driverless trips and deliveries starting near the end of 2022.
“Motional now has unparalleled access to millions of riders and a roadmap to scale significantly over the next 10 years,” said Karl Iagnemma, President and CEO of Motional. “We’re proud to partner with Uber to bring both driverless ride-hail and deliveries to life in cities throughout the U.S.”
Both companies claim that autonomous vehicles are perfect for leveraging insights to streamline operations and reduce vehicle downtime, translating to better overall service with lower fares and reduced waiting times. Uber will share data-driven insights with Motional as part of its newest long-term commercial agreement. Finally, partnering with Motional enables Uber to stay on track with its primary goal of becoming a zero-emissions platform by 2030.
