Back in 2015, Uber’s then-CEO Travis Kalanick had visions of self-driving cars steering the future. Fast forward a decade, and the landscape is packed with new players in the robotaxi game, with Uber making deals left and right. But before we get too excited, let’s remember that tech predictions are often as reliable as flipping a coin.
Uber’s interest in cutting out human drivers is no surprise. They spend about $2 per mile on wages, so robots would be a dream for the bottom line. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi sees this as a massive opportunity. Sure, but this isn’t the first time we’ve seen this circus. Tech dreams often crash when rubber meets the road.
This year, Uber latched onto several companies like Baidu, Pony.ai, and May Mobility. The latest are Nuro and Lucid, who plan to roll out 20,000 robotaxis. Sounds impressive until you realize the streets aren’t exactly flooded with self-driving cars yet.
The real play for Uber is staying the go-to app for rides, regardless of who builds the tech. They’re trying to be the Kleenex of ride-hailing. But let’s be blunt: just having an app doesn’t guarantee dominance when the real tech firms might decide to go solo.
Uber’s history with self-driving tech is rocky at best. They ditched their autonomous vehicle unit in 2020. Now they’re a middleman, finally turning a profit by focusing on what they do best—connecting riders and drivers. But don’t expect millions of robotaxis anytime soon. Current leaders like Waymo and Baidu are still in the hundreds, not thousands.
Uber’s app is on 160 million phones, which is their ace card. But a marketplace short on supply means Uber’s app isn’t as crucial right now. As more self-driving cars hit the streets, companies like Tesla and Waymo, who have their own ride-hail systems, might not need a middleman.
Chinese rival Didi is sticking with the old self-driving script, developing their tech. Meanwhile, Uber might still dabble in owning some tech, hinted by rumors of Kalanick sniffing around Pony.ai’s U.S. arm with Uber’s help. Who knows, maybe Uber hasn’t completely shut the door on in-house autonomy.
The glaring absence in Uber’s partner list is Tesla. Khosrowshahi would love to charm Tesla into a deal, but Tesla seems intent on keeping its ecosystem closed. Uber’s hoping for a partnership, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
In a market full of promises and partnerships, Uber’s strategy is clear: be everywhere, with everyone. But in tech, being everywhere sometimes means being nowhere, if you’re not leading the charge. So, while Uber’s making noise, remember: the proof will be in the driving, not the press releases.
