Uber Launches Robotaxis in Dallas with a Twist: Driver-Driven Option Available for Now
As part of its efforts to expand its autonomous ride-hailing services, Uber is now offering robotaxis as an option in Dallas. The move marks the latest addition to the company's growing roster of partnerships with vehicle manufacturers and technology firms.
While the initial fleet of vehicles will be driven by a human, the ultimate goal of this partnership with Avride is for fully driverless operation in the future. However, riders can rest assured that they have some control over their experience - they can select the option to ride with an autonomous vehicle (robotaxi) if desired.
Currently, Uber's fleet will consist of just a handful of Avride's Hyundai Ioniq 5 vehicles, but plans are in place for hundreds more to join the service in the coming months. This represents a significant expansion of the company's ambitions in the robotaxis space.
Interestingly, this is not Uber's first foray into autonomous ride-hailing - it has already partnered with other firms such as Waymo, Lucid, WeRide, and Momenta on similar initiatives in various cities across the US. However, Dallas marks a notable milestone in its efforts to bring this technology to a wider audience.
For those looking to ride with an Uber robotaxi, they can now increase their chances of being matched by selecting the "robotaxi" option in the app - although it's worth noting that riders will still have the option to switch to a traditional human driver if they prefer.
As part of its efforts to expand its autonomous ride-hailing services, Uber is now offering robotaxis as an option in Dallas. The move marks the latest addition to the company's growing roster of partnerships with vehicle manufacturers and technology firms.
While the initial fleet of vehicles will be driven by a human, the ultimate goal of this partnership with Avride is for fully driverless operation in the future. However, riders can rest assured that they have some control over their experience - they can select the option to ride with an autonomous vehicle (robotaxi) if desired.
Currently, Uber's fleet will consist of just a handful of Avride's Hyundai Ioniq 5 vehicles, but plans are in place for hundreds more to join the service in the coming months. This represents a significant expansion of the company's ambitions in the robotaxis space.
Interestingly, this is not Uber's first foray into autonomous ride-hailing - it has already partnered with other firms such as Waymo, Lucid, WeRide, and Momenta on similar initiatives in various cities across the US. However, Dallas marks a notable milestone in its efforts to bring this technology to a wider audience.
For those looking to ride with an Uber robotaxi, they can now increase their chances of being matched by selecting the "robotaxi" option in the app - although it's worth noting that riders will still have the option to switch to a traditional human driver if they prefer.