Your Next Lyft May Arrive Without A Driver As Fully Driverless EVs Hit The Road
The next time you’re out on the strip, you may just be ferried around by a fully driverless electric vehicle, as Lyft launches its first autonomous ride-hail operation in Las Vegas.
In collaboration with Motion, a developer of driverless technology, Lyft is finally allowing passengers to climb into the IONIQ 5-based robotaxis, marking a significant milestone in its goal of popularizing Level 4 autonomous vehicles across the country.
“Riders in Las Vegas can now experience Motional’s IONIQ 5 AV that will make that service a reality,” remarked Karl Iagnemma, the firm’s President.
“Through our strategic partnership with Hyundai, the IONIQ 5 AV is fully customized for driverless ride-hail operations, while maintaining the vehicle’s award-winning comfort and design,” he added.
According to Lyft, the duo has been conducting test runs of its autonomous rides in the city since 2018. After much tweaking, customers will now be able to enjoy an enhanced experience through special features.
This includes starting the ride or contacting customer support from the in-car application, which will be up on an intuitive in-ride display—fine-tuned by extensive research and feedback for the maximum comfort and ease of use.
The driverless service will officially begin in Las Vegas in 2023, with the companies planning to expand their fleet to other cities in the near future.
