Uber is ramping up its robotaxi service across the globe
Uber Technologies (UBER) is aggressively looking to get ahead of what some market analysts see as being one of the biggest looming headwinds that could disrupt its core business.
As Alphabet's (GOOG) Waymo and Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) look to flood the US market in robotaxis by the end of the decade, there is a sense that the cost-effectiveness of the driver-less service could significantly threaten the ride-hailing business that Uber has dominated.
But while robotaxis still appear years away from being deployed at a massive scale, Uber has been busy making its own inroads into the autonomous vehicle (AV) space.
This was made clear last week when the company unveiled three new initiatives aimed at bolstering its AV strategy.
Uber announced a strategic partnership with Zoox to launch the latter's robotaxis in Las Vegas this summer and in Los Angeles by mid-2027. Under the agreement, riders will be able to be matched with a Zoox robotaxi on eligible trips through the Uber app.
Zoox is a subsidiary of Amazon (AMZN).
The Zoox robotaxis are built specifically for the ride-hailing industry. Amazon said last week that it is expanding the testing of the vehicles to Dallas and Phoenix, making it 10 American cities where it is testing its service.
Its partnership with Uber represents the first time Zoox will be offered through a third-party platform.
“The Zoox robotaxi is unlike any other vehicle on the planet – it was purpose-built from the ground up to deliver an extraordinary experience,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement. “Zoox’s commitment to safety and their advanced autonomous driving technology make them an ideal partner."
In addition to its partnership with Zoox, Uber also said last week that riders in Las Vegas will now be able to be matched with an all-electric Motional IONIQ 5 robotaxi through its app. Motional is majority owned by Hyundai Motor Group.
During the initial launch, the service will be available at designated locations along Las Vegas Boulevard, with plans to expand to other areas.
Uber and Motional signed a 10-year framework agreement in 2022 aimed at creating one of the largest deployments of AV vehicles on a major ride-hailing network.
Uber also said last week that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.(NSANY) and Wayve to collaborate in the development and deployment of robotaxi services, launching a pilot program in Tokyo late this year.
The partnership will feature Wayve's end-to-end AI autonomous driving system integrated into Nissan's base vehicle, which will then allow it to connect to Uber's ride -hailing platform.
Wayve and Uber have already been collaborating on a global robotaxi rollout with services planned for ten cities worldwide. The companies are expected to soon launch a pilot program in London.
This latest venture marks Uber's first AV partnership in Japan.
“We have been testing our technology throughout Japan since early 2025, building extensive experience in the country’s unique road environments,” Wayve co-founder and CEO Alex Kendall said in a statement. “Partnering with Uber and Nissan to begin pilot deployment of Robotaxi allows us to introduce this technology in a responsible way, while continuing to learn and expand.”
Uber announced last month that it was launching Uber Autonomous Solutions, a suite of services that supports the end-to-end commercialization of robotaxis and autonomous vehicle (AV) fleets for its partners.
According to Uber, it will be providing its partners with data, mapping, regulatory access and financing to help them deploy AVs at scale. It is organized across the areas of infrastructure, user experience and fleet operations.
Uber's stock is down 8.6% YTD.