Uber’s AV strategy: How the rideshare giant is redefining its core businesses in the age of autonomy

We examine the near- and long-term implications of Uber’s activity in autonomous vehicles across its main business lines.

Uber is preparing its entire business for an autonomous driving future.

While it sold its autonomous vehicle (AV) unit (ATG) in 2020, the now-profitable company is leveraging its 2.8B quarterly trips and global reach to attract AV partnerships that could reduce costs long-term across its rideshare, delivery, and freight business lines.

For transportation and logistics executives, Uber’s recent activity signals a shift in the mobility landscape, highlighting the importance of diverse AV partnerships to hedge against tech and regulatory uncertainties while capturing early market share.

In this brief, we use CB Insights data to analyze Uber’s partnerships and investments in the AV space to uncover its strategic priorities.

Here are 3 key takeaways:

Uber’s rideshare platform is a prime testing ground for AV makers: With 30M daily trips, Uber provides AV partners with extensive real-world testing opportunities while reducing its own driver costs.
Different delivery markets require different AV solutions: Uber is pursuing varied AV partnerships to handle both dense urban and suburban last-mile delivery needs.
Autonomous trucking faces a longer rollout: Despite ideal highway conditions, varying state regulations are extending Uber Freight’s AV partnership timelines.