Uber Doubles Down on Self-Driving Cars as EV Market Cools
NEW YORK – Facing a slowdown in electric vehicle adoption, Uber is placing a significant bet on autonomous vehicle (AV) technology to revitalize growth, according to CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.The ride-sharing giant is expanding its AV operations globally through key partnerships and anticipates widespread deployment in the coming years.
Uber is currently piloting autonomous rides in the U.S. through a partnership with Alphabet’s Waymo, and internationally with China-based WeRide in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, utilizing human safety drivers. The company plans to launch AV services in Germany later this year and introduce new projects across Asia,bringing its total number of AV partners worldwide to approximately 20.
Khosrowshahi emphasized the safety benefits of AVs, stating they are “five times safer than humans” due to their lack of distractions and extensive operational mileage – often exceeding 1,000 times the distance a typical driver travels. He also highlighted the economic advantages of deploying AVs in existing Uber networks,noting the high vehicle costs,which can exceed $100,000 per car,and the need for “highly utilized” fleets.
Looking ahead, Uber anticipates AVs will eventually lower fares and increase demand, especially through shared autonomous rides. The company is already investing in services like UberX Share to facilitate cost-splitting and reduce congestion.
recent advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly large language models, have been instrumental in accelerating AV progress.Khosrowshahi believes these systems are “finally ready for prime time,” citing the “extraordinary” rate of progress in both technology and safety.