Motional, a collaboration between Hyundai and Aptiv, along with on-demand shuttle service Via, are preparing to introduce a publicly accessible, shared robotaxi service within a U.S. city during the first six months of 2021. The companies stated their objective is to establish a model for on-demand, shared autonomous vehicles and to understand how these driverless technologies can be incorporated into existing public transportation systems.

Currently, specific details regarding this partnership and the service itself are limited. While the companies have indicated that further information will be released at a later time, they have not yet disclosed the specific city, the service area, or the number and types of vehicles that will be utilized. They have confirmed that the launch will occur in a U.S. city where Motional is already operating, which limits the possibilities to Boston, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, and Santa Monica.

As part of this collaboration, Motional’s self-driving vehicles will integrate with Via’s platform, which manages booking processes, route planning, passenger and vehicle allocation, customer support, and fleet oversight. This arrangement mirrors Motional’s existing partnership with Lyft in Las Vegas.

It’s important to note that this service will not be entirely “driverless” initially. Each autonomous vehicle will include a human safety operator. However, users will be required to pay a fare, demonstrating the companies’ focus on establishing a commercially sustainable operation. Access to the robotaxi service will be provided through the publicly available Via platform, without requiring prior screening or non-disclosure agreements, unlike Waymo’s earlier rider program.

Developing a commercially viable, large-scale on-demand shared robotaxi service integrated with a transit network presents significant challenges. The companies emphasized the need for vehicles to be readily available, efficiently routed, and capable of accommodating multiple passengers. Motional president and CEO Karl Iagnemma also pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced both complexities and opportunities.

“This partnership is particularly timely as COVID-19 is changing perspectives on transportation, with consumers seeking more adaptable and diverse options,” Iagnemma explained in a statement, referencing recent Motional research that revealed 70% of surveyed Americans cite infection risk as a factor in their transportation choices, and 20% have increased their interest in self-driving vehicles since the pandemic began.

Via and Motional have announced that the service will incorporate several safety protocols, including physical barriers, the use of personal protective equipment such as masks, frequent vehicle sanitization, and contact tracing to prioritize the well-being of passengers.

Via has prior experience in testing and demonstrating the integration of its platform with autonomous vehicles. Last October, Via, Hyundai, and Chinese AV firm Pony.ai collaborated on a BotRide service in Irvine, California. This service utilized a fleet of electric Hyundai Kona crossovers, equipped with Pony.ai’s autonomous driving system and Via’s ride-hailing platform. Via has also conducted trials with Navya and Aurrigo, and launched a “BusBot” autonomous vehicle service in New South Wales, Australia.