Uber Now Ordering Robotaxis from ... Rivian? - CleanTechnica

Uber is expanding its robotaxi partnerships by investing significantly in Rivian, an electric vehicle startup that recently revealed its autonomous vehicle ambitions. Uber plans to invest up to $1.25 billion in Rivian through 2031, contingent on Rivian meeting autonomous performance milestones. The deal includes Uber or its fleet partners purchasing 10,000 fully autonomous Rivian R2 robotaxis initially, with an option for up to 40,000 more by 2030. An initial $300 million investment is expected soon, pending regulatory approval. Rivian aims to commercially deploy robotaxis starting in 2028, targeting service launches in San Francisco and Miami, and expanding to 25 cities by 2031. However, these plans remain largely aspirational at this stage. Rivian’s approach involves integrating vehicle design, computing platforms, and software development in-house, leveraging data from its consumer vehicles and commercial fleet experience. CEO RJ Scaringe expressed optimism about advancing to Level 4 autonomy, emphasizing their