Uber Accelerates Autonomy: $10B+ Push into Robotaxi Fleet and AI Mobility Shift

Ride-sharing company Uber has announced that it will invest more than $10 billion over the coming years to acquire autonomous vehicles (robotaxis) and take equity stakes in their manufacturers.

According to a report by the Financial Times, Uber is moving away from its light-asset “gig economy” model and has decided on this investment strategy shift. The company believes that this strategic transformation will help it avoid potential disruption in the robotaxi industry.

The report indicates that Uber is positioning itself as a marketplace for multiple robotaxi operators. It has already signed partnership agreements with China’s Baidu and US-based Rivian and Lucid Motors. The company plans to launch robotaxi services in at least 28 cities by 2028.

Based on Financial Times analysis and related sources, the agreements include more than $2.5 billion in equity investments over the coming years and $7.5 billion in spending on building a robotaxi fleet. However, these deals are dependent on whether Uber’s partners achieve specific infrastructure milestones.

This investment marks a reversal of Uber’s earlier strategy. In 2020, the company sold its autonomous vehicle division for $4 billion. At that time, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi repeatedly emphasized that Uber was an asset-light marketplace rather than an asset-heavy operator. However, the company is now shifting toward building its own robotaxi fleet.

Analysts say that after years of unmet expectations, interest in robotaxis has recently surged due to advances in artificial intelligence and technology partnerships. The technology is seen as a potential solution for complex traffic conditions and cost reduction. Experts view Uber’s move as a significant strategic shift in response to competition from players such as Starlink and Tesla.

DBTech/BMT/OR