BOSTON, Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Motional, a
global driverless technology leader, and Lyft (Nasdaq: LYFT) today
announce the resumption of their pioneering self-driving mobility
service in Las Vegas. The
publicly-available autonomous fleet -- the world's
longest-standing, which has provided more than 100,000 paid rides
-- consists of Motional robotaxis, operating on the Lyft
network.
The fleet was paused earlier this year due to COVID-19.
Now, with the addition of enhanced protective measures, the service
is again operational.
The fleet's passengers will ride in the first-ever
Motional-branded robotaxis, following the unveiling of the
company's new brand in August.
Peace of Mind, Every Time
The service resumes as
consumers demand new transportation options. According to a recent
report, 70% of Americans say coronavirus infection is a real
concern impacting their transportation decisions, and one-in-five
are more interested in driverless vehicles than they were before
the pandemic.
"We've put extensive measures in place to keep our fleet
thoroughly and frequently sanitized, and our passengers safe and
healthy," said Karl Iagnemma,
President and CEO, Motional. "We're thrilled to bring the fleet
back, and very proud of its place in history. It's the
longest-standing service of its kind, responsible for introducing
self-driving cars to hundreds of thousands of people."
The new protective measures follow CDC, World Health
Organization, and government guidelines, and include a partition
between the front and rear seats; vehicle operator PPE; and vehicle
sanitization at the start of each shift, the end of each day, and
between rides. Passengers can find more information on the
protective procedures here.
"In these turbulent times it's energizing to see the continued
innovation made by both Motional and Lyft as we push towards
delivering self-driving cars at scale," said Nadeem Sheikh, VP Autonomous Vehicles Programs
at Lyft. "Getting this fleet back up and running is a significant
jumping off point as we prepare to launch a robust set of new
features for the self-driving fleet."
Over 100,000 Public Rides Provided
The fleet, launched
in 2018, has provided over 100,000 rides to paying members of the
public, with 98% of passengers awarding their ride a five-star
rating.
This overwhelmingly positive response illustrates the public's
eagerness to ride in, and trust, self-driving vehicles. Passengers
are able to experience self-driving technology first-hand while
enjoying the comfort and convenience of a traditional Lyft ride.
Many riders have become self-driving evangelists following their
experience with the fleet. After their first ride, customers
repeatedly bring along friends and family members on their next
robotaxi journey.
Government partners in Las
Vegas and Nevada have been
instrumental in supporting the partnership and making self-driving
ride-hails a reality for its residents and visitors. The resulting
success has made the service a blueprint for how commercial
partners and cities can collaborate to bring reliable, efficient
and improved mobility to local communities.
To book a self-driving ride with Lyft and Motional in
Las Vegas, visit the Lyft app and
select a Motional car. For more information, visit Lyft.com and
Motional.com.
About Motional
Motional is a driverless technology
company making self-driving vehicles a safe, reliable, and
accessible reality.
The Motional team was behind some of the industry's largest
leaps forward, including the first fully-autonomous cross-country
drive in the U.S, the launch of the world's first robotaxi pilot,
and operation of the world's most-established public robotaxi
fleet.
Motional is a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group,
one of the world's largest vehicle manufacturers offering smart
mobility solutions, and Aptiv, a global technology leader in
advanced safety, electrification, and vehicle connectivity.
Headquartered in Boston,
Motional has operations in the U.S and Asia. For more information,
visit www.Motional.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn,
Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Lyft
Lyft was founded in 2012 by Logan Green and John
Zimmer to improve people's lives with the world's best
transportation, and is available to 95 percent of the United States population as well as select
cities in Canada. As the world
shifts away from car ownership, Lyft is at the forefront of this
massive societal change. Lyft is committed to effecting positive
change for our cities and making cities more livable for everyone
through initiatives that bridge transportation gaps, and by
promoting transportation equity through shared rides, bikeshare
systems, electric scooters, and public transit partnerships. We are
singularly driven by our mission: to improve people's lives with
the world's best transportation.
Media Contact:
Sara Krypel
MotionalPress@teamlewis.com
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SOURCE Motional