TechCrunch Mobility: Uber everywhere, all at once

The article from TechCrunch Mobility highlights Uber’s renewed and expansive commitment to autonomous vehicles (AVs) despite its earlier divestment from in-house AV development. Since 2020, Uber has strategically partnered with numerous AV technology companies across various sectors including delivery, drones, trucking, and robotaxis, extending its reach globally with collaborations in Europe, the Middle East, and China. A major recent development is Uber’s $300 million initial investment in Rivian, coupled with a purchase agreement for 10,000 fully autonomous R2 robotaxis to be deployed on Uber’s network in San Francisco and Miami by 2028, with an option to buy up to 40,000 more starting in 2030. This deal is notable because Uber is partnering with Rivian, which is both the vehicle manufacturer and self-driving system developer—a high-risk move given Rivian has yet to produce the R2 SUV or deploy its autonomous system, and its Georgia factory is still under construction. The article also touches