Motional is partnering with Lyft to bring its robotaxis to Los Angeles, according to The Verge. The service will include Motional's fleet of Hyundai Ioniq 5, and by the time it is launched, it will be fully autonomous. This means it will not need a human safety driver behind the wheel.
(Photo : by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 20: A sign for Lyft is posted in the ride share lot at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on August 20, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Uber and Lyft drivers held a rally earlier at the airport calling for basic employment rights.
However, there is no news yet on when the service will go live. A Motional spokesperson said that they would reveal the timing when it is closer to launch.
It is also worth noting that the company said that it wouldn't deploy fully autonomous vehicles until 2023. Hence, it seems that LA residents will not be able to hail any of their vehicles until next year.
Why Los Angeles?
Motional has been testing their vehicles in LA since last year, and when it officially launches, LA will be Motional and Lyft's second market following their launch of robotaxis in Las Vegas last year. However, this will be the first time that LA residents will be able to request an autonomous vehicle via the Lyft app.
This also means that Motional will need to get all their permits before they accept passengers. Currently, the state of California requires AV companies to acquire a series of permits from the Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Utilities Commission before they can operate and receive money for trips.
Motional has already applied for a permit with the California DMV for driverless testing. They will also be working now to acquire other permits ahead of their commercial launch.
Also read: Lyft's Future is Autonomous and Driverless Vehicles, According to Co-Founder
Robotaxis and Fully Autonomous Vehicles
California has been one of the most progressive states when it comes to robotaxis and fully autonomous vehicles. It is currently one of the only states that allow completely driverless vehicles on public roads. The only requirement is that there needs to be a human in the driver's seat in case something goes wrong.
However, the state is still very strict about the regulations for AVs. The DMV has tightened the regulations on AVs and has made it very difficult for companies to obtain permits to operate them. This is why Uber and other companies have not been as eager to test or roll out robotaxis in California.
Motional and Lyft have had a successful year with their launch in Las Vegas and pending launch in Los Angeles. However, Motional has no other plans to expand beyond the two cities. They are currently focusing on the development of fully autonomous vehicles. Despite a restrictive environment, California is still one of the best places for testing robotaxis. It also makes sense for Lyft to start operating robotaxis in Los Angeles since it is one of their biggest markets, and it is also a big hot spot for AV development.
Related article: Hyundai to Launch Robotaxis in Las Vegas in 2023
Written by April Fowell
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