Uber’s Ambitious Leap into Autonomous Vehicles: Introducing the Trailblazers of the Revolution

Recently, Uber has formed alliances with over 30 companies specializing in autonomous vehicles, demonstrating a robust global strategy supported by significant financial backing.

TechCrunch has compiled a thorough overview of these developments, but let’s first delve into some context.

Initially, Uber set out to create its own self-driving technology. The Uber Advanced Technologies Group (ATG), established in 2014 under then-CEO Travis Kalanick, leveraged expertise from the renowned robotics program at Carnegie Mellon University.

In 2016, Uber broadened its goals by acquiring Otto, a startup led by former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski, which focused on autonomous trucking while also starting trials in California, Pittsburgh, and Arizona.

However, the journey faced hurdles, including a legal dispute with Waymo, Kalanick’s resignation in 2017, and a tragic incident in Tempe, Arizona, in 2018, when an autonomous Volvo XC90 struck a pedestrian. This prompted Uber to pause testing and rethink its strategy.

Under the guidance of Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber reassessed its approach.

By 2020, Uber shifted its focus back to its core services like ride-hailing and food delivery, scaling back its ambitions for autonomous vehicles. The ATG was sold to Aurora, Jump was sold to Lime, and Elevate transitioned to Joby Aviation, while Uber maintained equity interests in these companies.

Fast forward two years, and Uber is preparing to make a return to the autonomous vehicle space, expecting a wave of contracts starting in 2024. TechCrunch will keep you updated on Uber’s advancements in this area.

Aurora

After divesting ATG to Aurora in 2020, Uber continued its partnership and holds an equity stake. As of April 2024, Uber, through Neben Holdings, owns approximately 325.97 million Aurora Class A shares, representing a 19.7% equity stake and 6.9% voting rights according to SEC filings.

In June 2024, Uber Freight announced a strategic partnership with Aurora, building upon previous tests. By May 2025, both companies confirmed that Aurora’s autonomous trucks had successfully executed round trips between Dallas and Houston utilizing the Uber Freight network.

Autobrains

In June 2026, Autobrains and Uber announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in Munich, pending regulatory approval. While specifics about the vehicles are currently undisclosed, both entities confirmed an OEM-agnostic strategy, leveraging Autobrains’ AI technology powered by Nvidia’s Drive Hyperion platform. Access to these robotaxis will be via the Uber app.

Avomo

Previously known as Moove Cars, Avomo specializes in managing autonomous fleets across Europe. In 2021, Uber acquired a 30% equity stake in Avomo.

Though Avomo may not be widely known, it plays a vital role in Uber’s autonomous framework. It oversees fleet services such as maintenance, inspections, and cleaning for the Waymo-Uber initiative in Austin and manages operations for a robotaxi service with WeRide in Madrid, announced in June 2026.

It’s important to distinguish between Avomo (formerly Moove Cars) and Moove, the African company managing Waymo’s AV fleet in Phoenix.

Avride

Avride, which evolved from Yandex and is now part of Nebius Group, entered a long-term partnership with Uber in October 2024 to integrate Avride’s sidewalk delivery robots and autonomous vehicles into Uber Eats and ride-hailing services.

By February 2025, reports showed that autonomous sidewalk robots were already supporting Uber Eats deliveries in Austin and Dallas. Later in fall 2025, Avride secured $375 million in strategic investments from both Uber and Nebius, though specific financial details remain undisclosed.

By late 2025, Avride’s robotaxis, based on the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and equipped with Avride’s self-driving technology, became available via the Uber app in Dallas. However, in May 2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating Avride due to multiple incidents, some of which resulted in minor injuries.

As of last June, these vehicles still required a human safety operator and had not achieved full autonomy.

Baidu

In July 2025, Uber announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Baidu to deploy thousands of Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles on the Uber platform globally, starting with a focus on Asia and the Middle East.

By the end of 2025, Baidu revealed plans to trial Apollo Go robotaxis in London in the first half of 2026 through its collaboration with Uber. However, as of June, these tests have yet to commence.

Cartken

Cartken began its partnership with Uber in 2022, initiating food deliveries in Miami, with plans to expand to additional cities in 2023. This collaboration also included commercial deliveries in Fairfax, Virginia, in the same year. By February 2025, food deliveries using Cartken’s robots began in Osaka, Japan.

By the summer of 2025, Cartken shifted its focus to industrial robotics. While it continues to support last-mile delivery, there are currently no further expansion plans anticipated.

Coco

In 2024, Uber partnered with Coco to integrate Coco’s sidewalk robots into Uber Eats deliveries, launching in Los Angeles and later expanding to select neighborhoods in Miami by April 2025.

Cruise

In August 2024, Uber and GM’s Cruise formed a strategic partnership to incorporate Cruise’s robotaxis into the Uber app by 2025. This collaboration was vital for Cruise, which had encountered multiple challenges, including workforce cuts and the departure of co-founders after an incident involving Cruise robotaxis in October 2023.

Regrettably, Cruise’s ambitious plans unraveled. By December 2024, GM opted to disband Cruise’s robotaxi segment due to financial constraints and competitive pressures, merging it with its engineering operations.

With Cruise’s robotaxi plans shelved, the partnership with Uber effectively ceased, despite their previously strong collaboration.

Flytrex

In September 2025, Uber announced a partnership with Flytrex, a drone delivery service, along with a minor investment, although specifics remain undisclosed.

Hertz

While Hertz doesn’t primarily focus on autonomous technology, its influence is significant. In April 2023, Uber established strategic fleet agreements with Hertz and its affiliate, Oro Mobility.

This collaboration aims to offer a premium robotaxi service using Lucid vehicles equipped with Nuro’s autonomous technology. Hertz is responsible for vital fleet operations, including maintenance, repairs, charging, and staffing.

Lucid

Uber made substantial investments in Lucid Motors, announcing plans in 2025 for a premium robotaxi service utilizing Lucid vehicles designed for autonomous capabilities. Initially, Uber committed $300 million to procure at least 20,000 Lucid Gravity SUVs over six years, integrated with Nuro’s self-driving technology.

In April, Uber increased its investment by an additional $200 million, raising the total order to 35,000 vehicles, including Lucid’s upcoming mid-sized platform. Currently, Uber has over an 11% equity stake in Lucid through its financial commitments and vehicle orders.

May Mobility

In May 2025, the Michigan-based startup May Mobility and Uber signed a deal to deploy May’s autonomous vehicles through the Uber app by the end of the year, commencing in Arlington, Texas.

They also expressed aspirations to expand into various U.S. markets by 2026, intending to introduce “thousands of AVs” in the upcoming years as stated by the startup.

As of June, Arlington was the only city where riders could access May Mobility vehicles via the Uber app.

Mercedes

In January 2023, Mercedes-Benz collaborated with Nvidia to create an ecosystem for robotaxis featuring self-driving S-Class vehicles within Uber’s ride-hailing platform. Specific details regarding city deployments are still to be determined.

Momenta

In May 2025, the Chinese autonomous driving company Momenta formalized its partnership with Uber to integrate its robotaxis into the app, aiming for a rollout in Europe by early 2026 with human safety drivers present.

Further updates in September 2025 indicated plans for testing the robotaxis in Munich, Germany, projected for 2026.

Motional

Motional, a subsidiary of Hyundai, has collaborated with Uber since 2021, initially targeting autonomous deliveries in Santa Monica. However, this initiative was classified as a pilot and did not lead to commercialization.

In October 2022, the partnership evolved into a decade-long agreement aimed at launching services in major North American cities, starting in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Nevertheless, a fully autonomous service without human drivers has yet to be realized.

Following a reorganization in 2024 that focused on AI advancements, Motional’s self-driving Hyundai Ioniq 5 vehicles began operations on the Uber app in Las Vegas in March 2026, still accompanied by human safety operators.

New Horizon

New Horizon, a fleet management company, supports Uber’s collaboration with Baidu in launching the Apollo Go autonomous ride-hailing service in Dubai.

Nissan

In March 2023, under Uber’s partnership with Wayve, Nissan committed to integrating self-driving Nissan Leaf EVs into the Uber network in Tokyo, utilizing Wayve’s technology.

Nuro

Nuro first partnered with Uber in 2022 to develop a custom delivery vehicle, aiming for a long-term strategy to initiate autonomous deliveries in Mountain View, California, and Houston later that fall.

However, Nuro shifted its focus away from creating delivery vehicles to licensing its self-driving technology to vehicle manufacturers and robotaxi operators. Continuing their collaboration, Uber revealed a significant agreement in 2025 for a premium robotaxi service using Lucid Gravity SUVs powered by Nuro’s autonomous technology.

San Francisco is expected to be the first city for this service, followed by Houston as of June. Uber’s financial stake in Nuro includes its Series E funding commitment and milestone-driven financing, totaling around $500 million.

Nvidia

Uber initiated its partnership with Nvidia in January 2018, during a crucial moment for both companies. Nvidia provided AI computing resources for Uber’s proprietary self-driving software, though this ended with the divestiture of Uber’s AV division in 2020.

At CES 2025, Uber announced plans to utilize Nvidia’s generative world model simulation tool, Cosmos, alongside its DGX Cloud AI supercomputing platform to boost its AV technology development. However, specific applications for these tools were not disclosed at the time.

In October 2025, Uber reaffirmed its intent to fast-track its robotaxi goals by leveraging Nvidia’s Hyperion autonomous platform. Stellantis vowed to supply at least 5,000 Nvidia Drive-equipped vehicles for Uber’s initiatives, marking a groundbreaking first among auto manufacturers.

In March of this year, Uber and Nvidia expanded their partnership to deploy a unified global fleet of Nvidia-powered autonomous vehicles, anticipated to launch in Los Angeles and San Francisco in early 2027, with plans to extend across 28 cities worldwide by 2028. These vehicles will utilize Nvidia’s Drive Hyperion platform and incorporate Alpamayo, a collection of open-source AI models and tools designed for complex driving tasks.

Pony.ai

Pony.ai, located in Guangzhou, partnered with Uber in May 2025, focusing on the Middle East to pilot a program for Pony.ai’s robotaxis (with a safety operator present) via the Uber app later that year.

In March 2026, Uber, Pony.ai, and Croatian company Verne announced plans to establish a commercial robotaxi service in Europe, set to launch in Zagreb. Pony.ai will supply the autonomous driving technology, operating robotaxis known as the Arcfox Alpha T5, developed in conjunction with BAIC, while Verne will manage fleet operations. Uber will facilitate ride requests through its platform.

Rivian

In a surprising announcement in March 2026, Rivian projected earnings of $1.25 billion. This agreement involves Rivian manufacturing several robotaxis based on its forthcoming R2 SUV, currently developing a self-driving system.

Uber has invested $300 million in Rivian, planning to deploy 10,000 fully autonomous R2 robotaxis in San Francisco and Miami by 2028. Both companies aim to expand robotaxi operations to “25 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Europe by 2031,” accessible exclusively through the Uber platform.

Serve Robotics

Born out of Uber’s acquisition of Postmates in 2020, Serve Robotics specializes in sidewalk delivery robots. The following year, this division was rebranded as Serve Robotics and became an independent entity.

Uber has also invested in Serve, which went public in 2024 after merging with a SPAC. Serve Robotics has been operational for Uber Eats deliveries in various U.S. locations for several years now.

Starship Technologies

In November 2025, Starship Technologies, known for its sidewalk delivery robots, announced a partnership with Uber Eats to facilitate food deliveries across numerous European countries beginning in 2026, with a U.S. rollout expected in 2027.

Stellantis

In June 2026, Stellantis announced a partnership with the autonomous driving startup Wayve and Uber to collaboratively develop and launch driverless robotaxis. Both Stellantis and Wayve, supported by investments from Uber, are working together to integrate the automaker’s self-driving capabilities into its ride-hailing platform.

All parties are committed to coordinating on vehicle integration, testing, and validation using Wayve’s technology before deployment across North America and Europe.

Tawasul

Based in the UAE, Tawasul partnered with Uber in 2024 to provide fleet management for the WeRide robotaxi initiative in Abu Dhabi.

Torc Robotics

Uber Freight, which originated from Uber in 2018, collaborated with Torc Robotics, a self-driving truck company acquired by Daimler in 2019, in December. This partnership primarily focuses on data analytics.

Torc has utilized Uber Freight to analyze shipping volume trends and networks to identify optimal routes and effective commercial applications for deploying autonomous trucking solutions.

Verne

The recent collaboration between Uber and Verne, initiated by Mate Rimac of the Rimac Group, was announced in March 2026, with the aim of establishing a commercial robotaxi service in Europe, scheduled to launch in Zagreb, Croatia. Together with Pony.ai, providing autonomous driving technology, Verne will manage the fleet developed by BAIC.

Uber is anticipated to invest in Verne, albeit specific details remain undisclosed.

Volkswagen/MOIA

Volkswagen’s MOIA America has partnered with Uber, announcing intentions to launch a commercial robotaxi service using autonomous Volkswagen ID. Buzz minivans by 2025. This service aims to roll out across multiple U.S. cities over the next decade, with Los Angeles specified as the first location.

In April 2026, both entities established a joint facility in Los Angeles to oversee daily fleet operations, indicating that the robotaxi service may potentially begin within the same year, initially operating with human safety operators. Full autonomous operations are expected to start in 2027.

Volvo Autonomous Solutions

After initial collaboration in 2023, Uber Freight reiterated its commitment to tangible results with Volvo Autonomous Solutions in 2025.

The VNL Autonomous truck from Volvo, equipped with redundancies for self-driving technology developed by Aurora Innovation, has begun operating for Uber Freight clients between Dallas and Houston, with plans for expanded routes.

Waabi

Uber’s relationship with Waabi is noteworthy. Founded by CEO Raquel Urtasun, a former chief AV scientist at Uber, Waabi specializes in self-driving trucks. Uber contributed to Waabi’s $83.5 million Series A funding round.

This partnership gained traction in 2026 when Waabi secured $1 billion—consisting of $750 million from a Series C round and approximately $250 million in milestone-based investment from Uber to deploy robotaxis utilizing Waabi’s self-driving technology.

Waymo

Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, first joined forces with Uber in May 2023 to incorporate some of its robotaxis into the Uber platform, starting in Phoenix. However, the partnership has certain limitations, as Waymo users can also hail robotaxis through its own app.

The collaboration was later extended to include Austin and Atlanta in the following year, yet users could only access Waymo’s robotaxis through the Uber app in these three cities. Operations in Austin began in March 2025, followed by Atlanta in June 2025.

Unfortunately, the partnership has faced obstacles; both companies ended their collaboration in Phoenix last month, and efforts are being made for Waymo to conclude its agreement with Uber, which will remain in effect until May 2028.

Wayve

UK startup Wayve has partnered with Uber, securing investment from a funding round in February 2026, raising $1.2 billion with backing from previous investors like Microsoft and Nvidia, alongside Uber. Total funding may reach up to $1.5 billion, including an additional $300 million from Uber aimed at launching robotaxis in London.

In March 2026, it was announced that self-driving Nissan Leaf EVs will be incorporated into Uber’s network in Tokyo, utilizing Wayve’s technology, with a pilot expected in late 2026. This partnership emphasizes the integration of Wayve’s AI-driven self-driving software into a Nissan Leaf, designed to function within Uber’s ride-hailing framework in Japan.

WeRide

WeRide, a Chinese robotaxi provider, is a crucial partner for Uber. Officially announced in September 2024, their collaboration aims to integrate WeRide robotaxis into the Uber platform, starting in Abu Dhabi. This service launched in December 2024, initially employing human safety operators before transitioning to full autonomy by November 2025. By late 2025, WeRide’s robotaxis were also available through the Uber app in Dubai.

Uber seeks to extend this collaboration by incorporating WeRide’s autonomous vehicles into at least 15 additional cities by 2030, reaching multiple locations throughout Europe. In those regions, WeRide’s robotaxis will be available via the Uber app, managed by Uber’s fleet operations. Following this, Uber increased its stake in WeRide by $100 million, focusing on target cities such as Madrid and Zurich.

In February 2026, Uber and WeRide set ambitious goals to deploy at least 1,200 robotaxis across the Middle East, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh, with operations expected to commence by 2027.

Zoox

Zoox, an Amazon subsidiary, has also collaborated with Uber. In March 2026, both companies announced a strategic partnership to integrate Zoox robotaxis within the Uber app in Las Vegas this year, with plans for future expansion into Los Angeles by 2027.