Uber doesn’t want to build robotaxis. Instead, it wants to power them all.
The ride-hailing giant has signed 20+ partnerships with autonomous vehicle companies worldwide. From Waymo in the U.S. to WeRide in the Middle East and Wayve in the U.K., Uber is placing bets across the board. Its goal is clear: become the world’s largest platform for autonomous rides.
A Platform Strategy, Not a Tech Gamble
Rather than develop its own self-driving system, Uber now acts as a connector. It links AV fleets to its massive user base of over 200 million monthly users. That scale gives partners instant access to riders without heavy marketing costs.
Uber aims to offer autonomous rides in 15 cities by the end of 2026. By 2029, it wants to become the largest facilitator of AV trips globally.
Meanwhile, competitors take different paths. Waymo operates its own platform in several cities. Tesla plans to control vehicles, software, and customer experience end to end. Uber, however, believes aggregation wins.
Beyond Robotaxis
Uber’s autonomy push goes further. The company partners on autonomous trucking with Aurora and Torc. It supports delivery robots through Serve Robotics, Coco, and others. It even pilots drone deliveries with Flytrex.
In addition, Uber invests heavily in infrastructure. It committed $100 million to expand fast-charging for AV fleets. Partnerships with EVgo, Ionity, and others aim to keep robotaxis on the road longer.
Through its new “Autonomous Solutions” initiative, Uber provides fleet tools, remote assistance, training data, and in-app integration. These services help partners commercialize faster.
Can Uber Catch Waymo?
Waymo already logs more than 400,000 paid driverless rides per week. Some operate through Uber’s app. Others run independently. Tesla, meanwhile, has begun limited robotaxi deployments in Austin.
Still, Uber argues that demand aggregation matters most. In Austin and Atlanta, Waymo rides booked via Uber showed 30% higher utilization and 25% faster ETAs, according to company data.
The Long Road Ahead
Robotaxis remain a tiny slice of the market. Uber says they account for just 0.1% of global ride-hailing trips today. Goldman Sachs estimates 35,000 robotaxis in the U.S. by 2030, capturing about 8% of the market.
Challenges persist. High costs, regulatory hurdles, weather limitations, and profitability questions remain unresolved.
Yet Uber’s strategy is bold. By betting on nearly every major AV player, it positions itself at the center of autonomy’s next chapter — no matter which technology wins.
