On October 27, 2020, Motional, a global leader in driverless technology, and Via, a pioneer in public mobility solutions, announced a partnership that aims to develop a platform for on-demand shared public rides. On February 24, the two companies launched the partnership’s first shared robot cab service in Las Vegas, which will allow riders to travel for free in the downtown area Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Motional, a U.S.-based autonomous vehicle company, is a joint venture created in 2020 by automaker Hyundai Motor Group and automotive supplier Aptiv, a global technology leader in advanced vehicle safety, electrification and connectivity. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Motional also has operations in Pittsburgh, Singapore, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The company is responsible for the first fully autonomous off-road ride in the U.S., the launch of the first robot cab driver in Singapore in 2016, and the operation of a large fleet of public cab robots.
Founded in 2012, Via uses new technologies to power public mobility systems, optimizing networks of dynamic shuttles, buses, wheelchair-accessible vehicles, school buses and autonomous vehicles. Via’s software, used by more than 500 communities in 35 countries, enables organizations to digitize their existing transportation networks and launch innovative new services, while reducing operating costs and improving service quality.
The Motional-Via Partnership
Via and Motional share a vision for the future of public mobility and are building the digital infrastructure to help autonomous vehicles reach their full potential as part of large-scale transit networks. To achieve this goal, vehicles must be on-demand, optimally routed and shared by multiple passengers. The effective use of autonomous vehicles will reduce congestion, CO2 emissions, and the costs of operating and using public transportation, while expanding transportation options for consumers.
The service seamlessly connects Motional’s autonomous vehicles to Via’s intelligent technology that powers reservation, routing, passenger and vehicle assignment and identification, customer experience and fleet management. The result will be a highly integrated and autonomous shared transportation system. In addition, the passenger app features local transit information, encouraging connection to local transit hubs via the service. Motional’s robot cabs are now available on the Via passenger app in downtown Las Vegas and will connect passengers to business centers, residential buildings, green spaces, government buildings, transit stations… Cariann Chan senior vice president of business at Via, said:
“At Via, we believe that autonomous on-demand vehicles can play a huge role in expanding access to efficient, sustainable and cost-effective transportation in our cities. We are proud that our partnership with Motional achieves this goal by connecting Las Vegas riders to critical destinations and transit hubs.”
Abe Ghabra, chief operating officer at Motional, concludes:
“Motional is a leader in operating commercial robotaxi services and we are excited to continue that legacy with Via. Our partnership provides a new channel for members of the public to experience safe and convenient autonomous rides, with a focus on effectively integrating Motional’s robotaxis with existing transit systems. We look forward to learning from this service and expanding our collaboration with Via.”
Translated from Motional et Via lancent leur service de robots taxis à la demande à Las Vegas
