Uber’s Extensive Autonomous Vehicle Network: Over 30 Global Partnerships and Investments

Uber has aggressively pursued a global strategy in autonomous vehicles (AVs) over the past two years, forging partnerships with and making direct investments in more than 30 companies. This extensive network represents a significant evolution from its initial in-house AV development efforts.

Uber first delved into self-driving technology in 2014, establishing Uber Advanced Technologies Group (ATG) and later acquiring Otto in 2016. Public road testing began in 2016 across California, Pittsburgh, and Arizona. However, this progress was severely impacted by a trade secrets lawsuit from Waymo, the resignation of CEO Travis Kalanick in 2017, and a fatal crash involving an Uber AV in Tempe, Arizona, in 2018. This incident, where a self-driving Volvo XC90 struck a pedestrian, led to the suspension of testing and a strategic pivot away from internal development.

Under CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber underwent a major restructuring in 2020, divesting from "moonshot" projects to concentrate on its core ride-hailing and delivery businesses. Uber ATG was sold to Aurora, Jump to Lime, and Elevate to Joby Aviation. Significantly, Uber retained equity stakes in these ventures, signaling a potential future re-engagement.

Just two years later, Uber began its re-entry into the AV landscape, shifting from internal R&D to a robust partnership and investment model. This deal-making accelerated notably in