Aptiv Places AV Bets on Vegas
An autonomous technology specialist is going ‘all-in’ with the launch of a new autonomous vehicle (AV) center in gambling’s capital Las Vegas.
Aptiv has announced the launch of its fourth technology hub with the setting up of its Las Vegas Technical Center which joins its Boston, Singapore and Pittsburgh facilities. It promises to be a state-of-the-art, all-inclusive facility for vehicle operations, research and development, data management and technology demonstration.
The 130,000 square-foot facility will be home to the company’s largest self-driving fleet, a portion of which is available to passengers through an ongoing partnership with Lyft, enabling visitors and residents to hail an AV to and from locations throughout the city. Rides are priced at the standard Lyft rate.
Aptiv’s AVs claim to support more than 1,600 destinations across Clark County and the City of Las Vegas, including popular entertainment venues, the Las Vegas Convention Center and City Hall. Plans for servicing additional locations, a more expansive customer base and additional use cases are said to be ongoing.
Karl Lagnemma, president of autonomous mobility at Aptiv, said: “The investment in our Las Vegas Technical Center gives us the ability to further advance the efficiency of our operations, gather key commercial AV learnings, and enhance safety operator training.”
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
