Motional puts AI at center of robotaxi reboot as it targets 2026 for driverless service

Motional, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, has rebooted its robotaxi strategy following missed deadlines, financial setbacks, and layoffs, adopting an AI-first approach to its self-driving system. The company is targeting the end of 2026 to launch a commercial, fully driverless robotaxi service in Las Vegas. This shift involves moving from a system based on individual machine learning models and rules-based programs to an architecture centered on a single, end-to-end AI foundation model, which CEO Laura Major says will improve generalization to new cities and optimize costs. Motional has already begun testing the service with employees and plans to offer it to the public later this year, with the human safety operator being removed by year-end. The company demonstrated progress during a recent autonomous drive in complex Las Vegas environments, though some elements remain under development. The long-term vision includes integrating this Level 4 technology into personal vehicles.

(Source：TechCrunch)