Uber expands autonomous vehicle involvement through over 30 partnerships and investments

Uber's Re-entry into Autonomous Vehicles

Uber has significantly increased its involvement in the autonomous vehicle (AV) industry over the past two years, establishing partnerships and making direct investments in more than 30 AV companies globally. This marks a strategic shift for the company, which had previously divested its internal AV development unit.

Historical Context and Divestment

Uber initially developed its own AV technology through Uber Advanced Technologies Group (ATG), formed in 2014. This effort included the acquisition of self-driving truck company Otto in 2016 and public road testing. However, legal challenges, leadership changes, and a fatal accident in 2018 led Uber to suspend and eventually sell its ATG unit to Aurora in 2020. At that time, Uber also sold Jump to Lime and Elevate to Joby Aviation, retaining equity stakes in these companies.

Current Strategy: Partnerships and Investments

Following its divestment in 2020, Uber began re-engaging with the AV sector through external collaborations, with deal flow accelerating in 2024. This approach allows Uber to participate in the development and deployment of autonomous technology without the direct operational and research costs of an in-house unit. Uber continues to hold a significant equity stake in Aurora, with 19.7% Class A equity and 6.9% voting power as of April.

Collaboration with Aurora

Uber's connection with Aurora dates back to the 2020 sale of Uber ATG. More recently, Uber Freight, Uber's logistics business, announced a multi-year collaboration with Aurora in June 2024. This partnership indicates a focus on integrating autonomous trucking solutions into Uber's freight operations.