Uber announced on Mar. 21 a major investment of up to $1.25 billion in electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian, aiming to deploy as many as 50,000 autonomous robotaxis across the United States, Canada, and Europe by 2031. The first phase of the agreement includes an initial $300 million investment for 10,000 R2 vehicles, pending regulatory approval, with an option for an additional 40,000 vehicles starting in 2030. San Francisco and Miami are set to be the first launch cities in 2028.
The deal is significant as it marks Uber’s continued expansion into autonomous vehicle technology and strengthens its partnerships within the industry. Rivian’s R2 robotaxis will use proprietary autonomous technology developed and manufactured in the U.S., furthering both companies’ ambitions in self-driving transportation.
Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick commented on the state of the autonomous vehicle race during a live episode of the All-In Podcast. “Waymo is clearly ahead of Tesla in the AV race,” Kalanick said, adding that Tesla still needs a “ChatGPT moment” for its vision-only approach to work at scale. He also introduced his new robotics venture Atoms and indicated plans for a more aggressive rollout than Waymo.
Meanwhile, rideshare drivers have filed a complaint with California regulators alleging that Waymo is transporting unaccompanied minors without adult supervision—an action they say violates state permits and company policy requiring riders to be at least 18 years old. The complaint requests an investigation and possible suspension of Waymo’s permit until compliance can be demonstrated.
In New York City, lawmakers overrode a mayoral veto to pass legislation providing new protections for rideshare drivers against deactivation from platforms like Uber and Lyft. The law requires advance notice before deactivation (except for serious misconduct), sets standards for termination with just cause, and establishes an independent appeals process.
Bank of America has reaffirmed its Buy rating on Uber following news of its partnership with Nvidia to launch Level 4 robotaxis in multiple global cities by 2028. This move positions Uber to have several Level 4 autonomous vehicle partners operating simultaneously in key markets by 2027.
