Uber Technologies has partnered with Chinese mobility company WeRide to offer autonomous vehicles on its app in Abu Dhabi. The move marks the first time Uber will use a robotaxi service outside of the US and China, focusing on markets such as Abu Dhabi.
Starting Friday, Uber riders can request an autonomous ride using UberX or Uber Comfort, which will be matched with a WeRide robotaxi vehicle. However, safety operators will still be present to ensure passenger comfort.
The partnership comes as investors express concerns about the impact of robotaxis on the ride-hailing market. Alphabet’s Waymo is also launching its own robotaxi service in Miami, and Tesla plans to enter the market with a similar service next year.
Despite these concerns, some analysts believe that self-driving cars will actually increase Uber’s addressable market share. Jefferies analyst John Colantuoni notes that ride-share players like Uber can help maximize utilization, optimize logistics, and provide fleet management expertise for robotaxis.
This partnership is part of Uber’s efforts to expand its autonomous vehicle offerings through various deals with companies such as Cruise and Avride. Lyft has also announced its own AV-focused partnerships, including a deal with technology developer Mobileye.
Source: https://www.investors.com/news/technology/uber-stock-robotaxi-weride-abu-dhabi-waymo