Two years after nearly collapsing, Motional is making its comeback official. The Hyundai-backed autonomous vehicle company just launched robotaxi service through the Uber app in Las Vegas, marking a critical milestone in one of the industry's most dramatic turnarounds. The service starts with safety drivers behind the wheel, but Motional's betting it can go fully driverless by December - a timeline that'll test whether the company's reset actually fixed what broke.
Motional passengers in Las Vegas can now hail autonomous rides through Uber's app, but there's a catch that reveals just how carefully the company's threading its comeback. Every ride includes a safety operator in the driver's seat, a precaution Motional insists is temporary. The company told TechCrunch it plans to remove the human monitors by year's end, setting up a high-stakes deadline that'll determine whether this launch is a true resurgence or just another false start.
The timing couldn't be more loaded. Just 24 months ago, Motional was hemorrhaging cash and talent after its partnership with Lyft imploded and Hyundai forced a brutal restructuring. The company slashed its workforce, shuttered operations in multiple cities, and watched competitors like Waymo and Cruise pull ahead in the robotaxi race. Industry insiders openly questioned whether Motional would survive at all.
But Hyundai's commitment never wavered. The Korean automaker doubled down on its autonomous ambitions, keeping Motional funded through the darkest months while the company rebuilt its technology stack and operational playbook. That bet's now being tested on Las Vegas streets, where Waymo already operates thousands of fully autonomous rides weekly and is plotting its return after its own safety crisis.
