Uber Technologies is deepening its commitment to autonomous vehicles with a new partnership that sees Hertz's Oro Mobility unit handling charging, maintenance, and depot staffing for its fleet of Lucid vehicles equipped with Nuro's self-driving technology. The collaboration, announced on April 30, targets a launch in San Francisco later this year, with potential expansion into other markets by 2027.
Chief Technology Officer Praveen Neppalli Naga outlined broader ambitions, revealing plans to outfit a portion of Uber's human-driven fleet with sensors to collect real-world road data. This data would be shared with autonomous vehicle developers to improve their systems. The initiative builds on Uber's existing AV Labs program, which currently operates a smaller fleet of purpose-built sensor cars.
This strategic pivot comes just days before Uber's first-quarter earnings report, shifting investor focus toward the company's spending, margins, and deployment timeline for robotaxis. Uber President and COO Andrew Macdonald described the partnership as a step toward building a "hybrid network" that blends human-driven rides with autonomous vehicles.
The move marks a departure from Uber's traditional asset-light model, where it avoided owning vehicles. Autonomous networks require significant infrastructure, including depots, charging stations, and maintenance facilities. Uber has reportedly committed over $10 billion to acquire thousands of self-driving cars and invest in technology partners, according to the Financial Times, though Reuters could not independently verify the figure.
Uber is pursuing a multi-partner strategy, working with 25 autonomous vehicle technology collaborators as of March. The company already operates robotaxi services in Phoenix, Austin, Atlanta, and Dubai, with plans to launch in Las Vegas with Zoox this summer and in Los Angeles by mid-2027. A partnership with Nvidia targets a launch in Los Angeles and San Francisco by 2027, with ambitions to reach 28 cities by 2028.
Competition in the robotaxi space is intensifying. Alphabet's Waymo remains the commercial leader, while Tesla's size and resources could disrupt the market. Uber's strategy of partnering with multiple technology providers aims to mitigate risk but also creates complexity in deployment timelines.
Naga highlighted unresolved regulatory issues around sensors and data sharing that could delay deployments. The company's robotaxi deals are contingent on partners meeting rollout targets, leaving the timeline vulnerable to regulatory hurdles, safety concerns, or shifts in rider demand.
Beyond autonomous vehicles, Uber is expanding its platform. The company recently partnered with Expedia to offer hotel booking options through its app, adding over 700,000 listings globally. Uber One, the company's subscription service, had 46 million members in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Uber's stock closed at $75.12 on Friday, up 0.7%, while Hertz fell 3.6% to $6.14. Investors will be watching Uber's first-quarter earnings report on Wednesday for specifics on robotaxi spending versus revenue from actual rides.
